Malayan Dwarf Palm Trees and Agriculture in Vietnam
Vietnam is a major producer of green coconuts and coconut derived products. In 2014, Vietnam was the sixth largest coconut producer in the world with a total of 1.3 million metric tons. Likewise, during 2016, Vietnam produced about 165.000 metric tons of coconut oil, which ranked as the fourth largest producer worldwide. Coconut production in Vietnam takes place mainly in the central and southern regions of the country. Similarly, one of the main strands of coconut palm tree grown in Vietnam is the Malayan dwarf. Like all other strands of coconut palm trees, the Malayan dwarf is endemic to Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean region, particularly the Malayan peninsula, which corresponds with modern day Malaysia. Today, the Malayan dwarf is a popular strand of coconut palm trees because it starts yielding coconuts within three years of germination and it is resistant to the fatal yellowing disease. Therefore, the Malayan dwarf is currently cultivated throughout the world, including in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. This article explores the status of the agricultural industry in Vietnam.
Malayan Dwarf Palm Trees and Agriculture in Vietnam
Reunified at the end of April 1975, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a mid-sized nation covering the eastern coast of Indochina in continental Asia. With a total territory of little over 331.000 square kilometers, Vietnam is somewhat larger than New Mexico. Geographically, the country is flat in the south, has highlands in the center, and some mountains in the north. Likewise, Vietnam is humid and crossed by numerous rivers. The country has a total population of more than 95 million citizens, of which approximately 33% lives in an urban setting, notably the capital, Ho Chi Minh City, which has about 7.3 million inhabitants. It is remarkable to note that over 65% of the Vietnamese population still lives in a rural setting.
Currently, Vietnam’s annual gross domestic product (GDP) is of approximately US$520 billion and its national economy has experienced positive growth upwards of 6.0% in recent years. The Vietnamese national economy is divided into 17% agriculture, 39% manufacturing, and 44% services. Meanwhile, the agriculture industry utilizes some 35% of the national territory, while another 45% is forested. Similarly, Vietnam’s agriculture industry employs 48% of the national labor force, while manufacturing employs 21% and services employ another 31%.
In terms of natural resources, Vietnam has phosphates, coal, manganese, chromate, offshore oil & gas, timber, hydropower, and arable land. Within manufacturing, the national industry is focused on food processing, garments & shoes, machinery, mining, coal, steel, cement, fertilizers, glass, tires, and fossil fuels. Meanwhile, the country’s agricultural industry has as main products rice, coffee, rubber, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews, sugar cane, peanuts, bananas, poultry, fish, and seafood. Vietnam is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and one of the key negotiators for the creation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in Asia. Finally, in terms of trade, Vietnam’s main partners are China, Hong Kong, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, amongst others.