Vietnam is planning to increase its cacao acreage to some 20,000 hectares by 2010 from current 7,320 hectares, becoming a cacao producer and exporter.

Of the existing acreage, 1,000 hectares are in harvest season with a yield of nearly 1.2 tons of cacao fruits per hectare, the Planning Department under the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development told Xinhua on Wednesday, noting that some 35 tons of cacao beans have been exported in the first 10 months of this year.

A kilogram of dried cacao beans is currently priced around 20, 000 Vietnamese dong (nearly 1.2 U.S dollars) in the domestic market.

Vietnam is estimated to have some 8,100 hectares of cacao trees, mainly in the southern and Central Highlands region, by late 2006. Its agencies and foreign ones from the United States and the Netherlands are actively selecting suitable cacao varieties, mainly imported ones, producing more seeds and seedlings, and transferring cultivation techniques to farmers.

"We are seeking more outlets for local growers. The world demand for cacao stands at over 3.1 million tons each year. Western European countries, the United States, India and China consume great volumes," Vietnam's National Institute of Agricultural Planning and Production told Xinhua recently, noting that the country will develop its cacao processing industry in the long term.

Cacao trees were first grown in Vietnam's southern region in 1878, but were not adored by local farmers due to their low profitability.

The tropical 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.

Source: Xinhua