Our mission is to preserve the traditional craft of palmyra nectar production among the indigenous Khmer people in An Giang, Vietnam, by creating an international standard product, providing more jobs for local people, and contributing to a sustainable future by protecting wild palmyra trees.

Tran Thi Thu Hoai_Palmania JSC

Our mission is to preserve the traditional craft of palmyra nectar production among the indigenous Khmer people in An Giang, Vietnam, by creating an international standard product, providing more jobs for local people, and contributing to a sustainable future by protecting wild palmyra trees.

"Palmania's core business is creating premium palmyra nectar products. Besides preserving 

the traditional craft of the indigenous Khmer people, Palmania applies advanced technology to create other products from the soft palmyra nectar such as palmyra nectar in powder form, palmyra nectar crystal, and to create new products from palmyra flower nectar such as fresh palmyra flower nectar drink or palmyra nectar syrup. The products are all pure, natural, nothing-added and all promoting sustainability and benefiting local people, especially women."

To learn more about Asia Beautiful Fellow, including its business background, selection criteria, and support offerings, please click the link below!

What scenery comes to mind when you think of Vietnam? Perhaps vast rivers, beautiful fields, dense forests, and tall trees? In southern Vietnam, the landscape symbolizing An Giang province is the 'Palmyra tree,' which can easily grow for over 100 years. The Palmyra tree, a type of palm tree, helps preserve groundwater levels and provides a home for creatures such as birds and bats. Farmers used to harvest nectar from the Palmyra trees for income, but due to unstable earnings, many have abandoned harvesting and resorted to cutting down the trees and selling them at a low price.

Today, I’d like to introduce Hoai (Tran Thi Thu Hoai), the third Asia Beautiful Fellow of the 3rd cohort. She is addressing Palmyra tree deforestation in An Giang while producing ‘Palmyra nectar’ in an eco-friendly manner to support the livelihoods of the indigenous Khmer people. By reviving traditional methods used by the Khmer people, they produce ‘Palmyra nectar’ without chemical additives, making it safe for consumers and producers. Palmania, run by Hoai, ensures fair prices for farmers by consistently purchasing ‘Palmyra nectar’ produced sustainably and healthily. They collaborate with rice farmers to produce organic Palmyra nectar, gradually reducing chemical fertilizers and gaining ground to expand eco-friendly farming practices.

By ensuring fair income through the Palmyra tree, they protect the trees and guarantee stable livelihoods for local communities. Isn't that amazing?

Let me share how Hoai, the final Asia Beautiful Fellow of the third cohort, is working with the local community to produce eco-friendly nectar through Palmyra trees, creating a virtuous cycle for both the economy and the environment!

What is Palmania?

"We made nectar with sincerity, quality, and transparency."

Palmania operates with the mission of “Our dream is to make truly natural, pure, and healthy products for our customers while uplifting local communities." Through the eco-friendly production and sale of Palmyra nectar, they foster coexistence with nature and ensure local farmers earn a sustainable and fair income. 

The founder of Palmania, Hoai, first learned about Palmyra nectar and the An Giang region in 2017 through her colleague, Diu. Witnessing the environmental and social issues caused by the deforestation of Palmyra trees, she decided to take action. Together with her friends, she founded Palmania to address these challenges.

One of the critical issues Hoai observed was the lack of proper education for children. Low incomes forced adults to leave their hometowns in search of work, leaving only grandparents and children in the region. This led to a lack of children's education.

Hoai believed “collaboration with indigenous farmers" was the key to solving these issues. With this approach in mind, she focused on producing nectar to create change. So, what specific problems has Hoai tackled to pave the way for a sustainable future?

Palmania wants to tackle these issues

"For farmers and communities whose livelihoods depend on the health of these rich natural resources, adaptation will be the key to survival. (World Bank,2021)"

UNDP has reported that the poverty gap between the Mekong Delta region, including An Giang, and urban areas remains severe (UNDP VN, 2023). Per capita income in the Mekong Delta is significantly lower than the national average, primarily because agriculture, the main source of income for residents, is heavily impacted by the climate crisis (VCCI, 2021). With its low elevation, An Giang is especially vulnerable to climate crisis effects such as rising sea levels and shifting rainfall patterns. This has resulted in issues like inadequate freshwater and drainage systems, as well as declining water resources (World Bank, 2019). Consequently, many residents have been migrating from An Giang to urban areas.

Agricultural practices have also had a detrimental impact on the environment. The use of chemical fertilizers has been more widespread than organic and microbial fertilizers, leading to soil acidification and reduced productivity. Additionally, the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has contaminated local water resources (Open Development Vietnam, 2023). Therefore, there is an urgent need for careful management that takes both industry and regional characteristics into account. In this context, the role of Hoai and Palmania is crucial in promoting economic development while ensuring harmony with the environment.

What does Palmania do?

ⓒBeautifulStore

"We create international-quality products through sustainable collaboration that harmonizes farmers and the environment."

Palmania is dedicated to preserving the Palmyra tree, a symbol of the An Giang region, and protecting the health of both producers and consumers. By restoring the traditional nectar production methods used by the Khmer farmers, they educate local farmers. They produce nectar without chemicals, relying solely on natural Palmyra sap. This method ensures the health of both producers and consumers.

Producing nectar using traditional methods requires more time and effort, but it also leads to higher income. Farmers working with Palmania earn about 60-70% more than they would when trading with others using conventional production methods. By following the production guidelines provided by Palmania, farmers can ensure a steady income through long-term partnerships. Palmania is also working to expand its organic certification by supporting farmers with the necessary resources and collaborating with local farmers and institutions.

Palmyra flower nectar can be harvested year-round, but Hoai only allows harvesting during the dry season, from November to June or July, to protect the farmers' safety, maintain nectar quality, and give the Palmyra trees a rest. Farmers climb the 20-30 meter trees to harvest the nectar, a dangerous task during the rainy season, which is why they avoid it then. By doing so, both the farmers and the trees are safeguarded. The Palmyra trees take 20-30 years to first produce flower nectar, and when properly protected, they can live for over 100 years. Despite this, many farmers facing immediate financial needs opt to cut down the trees instead of focusing on sustainability. Hoai ensures that farmers can continue traditional nectar production while protecting both the trees and the farmers, ultimately increasing the lifespan of the trees and generating long-term profits. Isn't that admirable?

ⓒPalmania JSC

"We also create more jobs for local people, especially for young women including indigenous ones at our production site."

Palmania is working to increase the role of women farmers in contributing to income and ensuring they can earn direct income. They provide training to Khmer women farmers on the roles they can play in producing Palmyra nectar. In addition, Palmania actively employs Khmer women at its factory where Palmyra nectar is processed. In Vietnam, agriculture is often seen as a man's job, making it particularly difficult for rural women to find employment. To address this, Palmania offers job opportunities to local women, allowing them to take part in producing and packaging products at the factory.

People working with Adena Coffee

① Collaborating Farmer

I am a farmer who produces Palmyra honey. I have been making and selling Palmyra honey for the past 10 years, and I have been working with Palmania for about 3 years now. Before I started working with Palmania, I used chemicals during the honey gathering and boiling processes. Most Palmyra honey was produced this way. When collecting sap from the Palmyra flowers, it ferments quickly, making it impossible to create honey. So, we would gather the sap, add chemicals, and boil it all at once. Chemicals and white sugar were also added during the boiling process. The chemicals were white powder, but I’m not sure what exactly it was.

After receiving training from Palmania on producing Palmyra honey naturally, I no longer use any chemicals. I also received hygiene training, so I made sure to keep all the tools clean from the gathering to the production process. Although producing honey the traditional way takes more time and requires more care, I can continue working with Palmania, and the price I receive for my honey is higher than before. Since working with Palmania, my income has increased by about 70%.

Previously, I couldn’t pinpoint the cause, but my husband suffered from asthma. Since switching to the natural production method, his health has improved. I suspect that the chemicals used in the production process may have contributed to his asthma. With the increased income, I can spend more on educating my children, and though the savings are small, I’m also able to save money. I hope to use the savings to rent land and start growing rice in the future.

② Co-founder, Diu Chau

ⓒ BeautifulStore 

I co-founded Palmania with Hoai, and now I oversee production and communicate with the farmers. Palmania was founded with the hope of seeing my hometown thrive. The Palmyra tree is a symbol of An Giang, but because of serious deforestation issues, I wanted to create a brand that both protects the Palmyra tree and highlights the uniqueness of our region. I also wanted to create opportunities for local farmers, especially the younger generation, so they could stay in the area and help preserve the local community. At the same time, I aim to improve the income contributions of women in the region.

At Palmania, we work hard to create various social, and environmental impacts by collaborating with external experts and producing nectar in an eco-friendly way. We’re planning to work with rice farmers to increase organic certification regions. We intend to expand the factory and install solar panels to use renewable energy for its operations. In the future, we hope to preserve more Palmyra trees and improve the lives of local farmers through increased partnerships with more farmers.

Future Plan of Palmania

ⓒPalmania JSC

① Creating a Collaboration Structure for Expanding Organic Farming

Palmania plans to obtain more organic certifications while promoting environmental values and increasing farmers' incomes. Expanding organic certifications will require changes in the agricultural practices surrounding the Palmyra trees. In An Giang, where Palmyra trees often grow near rice fields, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides are still widely used in rice farming. Therefore, Palmania aims not only to protect the Palmyra trees but also to help nearby rice fields achieve organic certification. This initiative is designed to create a system where farmers can produce organic rice and earn higher incomes through collaboration with rice farmers. Palmania is also planning partnerships with local governments and private companies to extend organic certification to Palmyra honey.

②  Producing a Variety of Palmyra Nectar Products

ⓒPalmania JSC

Palmania is diversifying its products to expand consumer choices and ensure a steady supply of honey by continuously purchasing more honey from farmers. The company has developed vacuum drying and sterilization techniques to produce powdered honey while maintaining its purity and flavor. Additionally, Palmania is working on creating beverages using honey to offer consumers healthy, trustworthy products. Moving forward, Palmania will continue to contribute to environmental protection and community development through various activities, working toward a sustainable future.

How was the story of Hoai, the third fellow of the 3rd Asia Beautiful Fellow?

Hoai prepares funding for business growth in the future and works towards more farmers and a sustainable future!

Please continue to support the activities of Hoai and Palmania, who are working towards community development through agriculture that harmonizes with the environment.

BeautifulStore is walking with social entrepreneurs in Asia who are trying to solve environmental problems, including Hoai. Please look forward to seeing how great the activities will be during the two years with  BeautifulStore😊!