Vietnam to Develop Cacao Cultivation

Vietnam to develop cacao cultivation

HANOI, April 18 (Xinhua) — Vietnam plans to expand its cacao acreage from current 10,000 hectares to 60,000 hectares by 2010 and 80,000 hectares by 2020, becoming a cacao producer and exporter, according to local newspaper Vietnam Economic Times on Friday.

In 2007, Vietnam produced only 258 tons of dried cacao beans, of which 240 tons were exported. In the domestic market, one kilogram of dried cacao beans sells for some 25,000 Vietnamese dong (1.6 U.S. dollars).

By the end of 2005, Vietnam had 8,500 hectares of cacao trees, mainly in the central highlands region, and some in southern provinces. The tropical trees were first grown in the southern region in 1878, but were not adored by local farmers due to their low profitability.

Cacao trees’ fruits are manufactured into various products, including cocoa butter used in fine soaps, cosmetics and medicines, and cocoa used for beverages and flavoring. Chocolate is a product in which the cocoa butter has been retained.

(c) 2008 Xinhua News Agency – CEIS. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.