The paper employs value chain approach and analyzes the added value, and applies both quantitative and qualitative analyzing methods for entities engaging in growing, processing and commercializing products from coconut. The results confirm financial benefits generated by the coconut. | JED January 2013 | 147 Estimate of Financial Benefits from Value Chain of Bến Tre Coconut TRẦN TIẾN KHAI Doctor of Philosophy, University of Economics HCMC Email: trankhai565@ HỒ CAO VIỆT Doctor of Philosophy, Email: hocaoviet2000@ LÊ VĂN GIA NHỎ Master of Arts, Institute of Agricultural Science for Southern Vietnam Email: nholvg@ NGUYỄN VĂN AN Master of Arts, University of Economics HCMC, Email: antuyhoa@ HOÀNG VĂN VIỆT Master of Arts, University of Economics HCMC, Email: NGUYỄN VĂN NIỆM Master of Arts, Bến Tre Department of Science and Technology Email: hoainiembentre@ ABSTRACT Coconut has long played an important role in Bến Tre economy. Understanding and estimating exactly contribution from the value chain of coconut are still limited. This paper tries to analyze the structure and operation of the value chain of coconut and estimate its contributions in financial aspects. The paper employs value chain approach and analyzes the added value, and applies both quantitative and qualitative analyzing methods for entities engaging in growing, processing and commercializing products from coconut. The results confirm financial benefits generated by the coconut. Keywords: value chain, coconut and products from coconut, added value 148 | Trần Tiến Khai Estimate of Financial Benefits from Value Chain of Bến Tre Coconut 1. PROBLEM STATEMENT Bến Tre is an agricultural province in the Mekong Delta whose natural conditions are favorable for agricultural development. Bến Tre economy is based on sea-farming and orcharding. Its staple products include fish, shrimps, clam, catfish, coconut products, rice, sugarcane, livestock and poultry. Of agricultural plants, the main ones are coconut, fruit and rice. Bến Tre government has recently taken measures to develop its staple agricultural products by diversifying processed farm products, generating more new jobs, and supporting development of value .
