Pumpkin price drops, hard to sell

Pumpkin harvest.

Pumpkin growers said that last year the price of pumpkin fluctuated from 13,000 - 14,000 VND/kg; this year's harvest has seen pumpkin prices continuously drop, currently only 3,000 - 4,000 VND/kg. The reason for the drop in pumpkin prices is that in previous years pumpkin prices were high, causing people to focus on growing them. As a result, the area doubled from 400 hectares to 800 hectares, supply exceeded demand, leading to low prices.

Currently, in Tan Chau district, there are about 800 hectares of pumpkin, of which 150 hectares have been harvested, and 650 hectares are waiting for traders; the estimated yield is 20 tons/ha; the estimated output is 13,000 tons.

According to the plan of pumpkin growers, the harvest time is from October 15 to November 16. On average, each day, gardeners harvest about 500 tons, however, the current consumption through traders is only about 200 tons/day; price 4,200 VND/kg.

Mr. Nguyen Van Co, a farmer in Suoi Ngo commune, said: “Last year, I rented land from a rubber plantation to grow 2 hectares of pumpkin, earning a profit of about 200 million VND/crop. Seeing the high profit, many people in the province as well as outside the province also planted pumpkin, causing the area of pumpkin to increase, so supply exceeded demand, causing pumpkin prices to fall miserably.”

“Currently, traders still come to buy, but they pay low prices, they negotiate to throw away rotten and wrinkled fruits. Traders will separate them into types 1, 2 and 3 to negotiate prices. Although this year's pumpkin yield meets requirements, there is still no profit,” Mr. Co shared.

Mr. Dinh Van Hiep - Vice Chairman of Suoi Ngo Commune People's Committee said: "This year, in Suoi Ngo Commune, the area of pumpkin cultivation is larger than previous years, due to the large area of rubber trees liquidated by the farm, so farmers rent land at a cheaper price, especially the weather in the rainy season is easy to grow, making the area of pumpkin cultivation this year double that of last year. Last year, the price of pumpkin was around 13,000 - 15,000 VND/kg, farmers earned from 150-200 million VND/ha".

Pumpkin fields are waiting to be harvested.

Mr. Hiep added that this year, the price of pumpkin has "dropped" miserably, to only 4,000 VND/kg, grade 1. In that situation, the locality recommended that the provincial agricultural sector have a direction for farmers to stabilize output, strengthen the link between production and consumption so that farmers can feel secure in production, avoiding being forced to lower prices by traders.

According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Xuan - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, because people do not pay attention to granting certificates and growing area codes, disease safety, food safety. "If there are many products in a year, falling into a situation of supply exceeding demand, then we will use the word "rescue", in other words, support farmers to buy and sell, then large distribution chains will require these products to have food hygiene and safety certificates, growing area codes, VietGAP certificates... In my opinion, next year farmers should learn from experience, the agricultural extension agency, plant protection will guide the process, issue documents for us, it will improve at least not lose value like this year" - Mr. Xuan shared.

“In the coming time, we propose that distribution chains and industrial parks support consumption for people at stable prices. Of course, the price will not be as good as last year, but at least people will recover their capital and make a little profit to reinvest,” Mr. Xuan emphasized.

Currently, the provincial agricultural sector regularly guides farmers to associate agricultural production with consumption, connecting the chain to have a stable consumption market. However, most farmers still rush to grow any crop that has a good price, without considering the consumption plan, leading to supply exceeding demand. Currently, the provincial agricultural sector is trying to connect businesses, supermarkets... to consume pumpkin products for people.

Nhi Tran - Hoang Yen

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