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Fruit price decreases sharply

Currently, Thai jackfruit growers in Cu M'gar district, Dak Lak province are entering harvest time, but they are facing many difficulties as the price continuously drops.

According to the reporter, at the beginning of the crop, Thai jackfruit in the area had a price of VND 15,000/kg, then dropped to VND 7,000-8,000/kg, and is only VND 2,000-3,000/kg now. This is a record drop in price for this fruit. Many jackfruit growers said that the current low price was due to the influence of the Covid-19 epidemic, making Chinese traders stop their purchases.

“Every year, after harvesting Thai jackfruits, I transport them all to Tien Giang province and sell them to China. This year, due to the impact of the epidemic, it was impossible to export to China, so jackfruit prices drop to a record. Just the transportation cost from Dak Lak to Tien Giang is already not enough to cover the expenses, so I had to cut some down to save them for another crop" said Mr. Nhan of Village 5, Ea Tar commune, Cu M'gar district, Dak Lak. According to Mr. Nhan, with the current price, the family will surely suffer heavy losses in this harvest.

Similarly, Mr. Tran Van Giang, living in Village 3, Ea Tar commune, Cu M'gar district, bitterly shared: “Having 300 jackfruit trees in the garden, instead of busily harvesting like previous crops, this time the family is desperately looking for buyers. Traders have limited the purchase of goods, and the price is a steal. I had to leave the fruit ripe dry on the tree and fall”.

Not only jackfruits, but the harvest of avocado 034 in Dak Nong province has also begun. However, avocado prices are also down by nearly VND 10,000/kg compared to the same period last year. To be specific, VND 25,000/kg was the lowest price that traders gave out to buy avocados in the garden last year. However, they now buy at prices of VND 14,000- 15,000/kg.

Due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, many farmers and avocado farms in the province are also trying to "anchor" the fruit on the tree, waiting for the price to rise.

Looking for output

According to Mr. Vu Duc Con, Deputy Director of Dak Lak Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the cause of jackfruit's price devaluation was because many local farmers have massively converted to jackfruit after seeing high profits from it.

Upon facing the situation, the local agriculture industry recommends that growers should not massively expand their area or neglect the garden after seeing the price of jackfruit fall dramatically. In the long run, jackfruit is still an advantageous tree, since it is one of the nine fruits of Vietnam that are officially exported to China.

As informed by Mr. Pham Tuan Anh, Director of Dak Nong Department of Agriculture and Rural Development: “We have heard information of avocado prices being lower than every year, but we have not grasped the specific situation. At the moment, the Department has assigned the Sub-Department of Agriculture and the Sub-Department of Rural Development to check the situation of output and product consumption. After receiving the report, the Department will develop a plan to support the people to consume products”.

“The agricultural industry orients that farmers should apply techniques in cultivation to extend the crop and switch to standard jackfruit cultivation. In particular, growers need to carefully study the variety selection and the market’s demand. In addition, the local agricultural industry will also try to expand the consumption market for jackfruit, avoiding dependence on one certain market," said Mr. Vu Duc Con, Deputy Director of Dak Lak Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.