Avocado variety 034 has several advantages: an attractive appearance, a long, slender shape, and a relatively long ripening time after harvesting, approximately 5-7 days. The flesh of avocado 034 is thick, creamy, and smooth, with a small seed and easy peeling. Because of these qualities, avocado 034 is favored by consumers.
About 10 years ago, this type of avocado was all the rage, with prices reaching up to 200,000 VND/kg at the beginning of the season. During peak season, the price of 034 avocados was around 50,000-60,000 VND/kg.
However, in the last three years, the price of this type of avocado has dropped sharply, currently only a few tens of thousands of dong per kilogram. The market for 034 avocados is also facing many difficulties.
The current price of avocado 034 is only fluctuating. The price ranges from 12,000 to 20,000 VND/kg. Retail prices at fruit shops and stalls fluctuate around 25,000 to 30,000 VND/kg.
According to Ms. Doan Thi Hong Tram, owner of a fruit purchasing facility in Nghia Trung ward (Gia Nghia), although it is only the beginning of the season, the price of avocado variety 034 is not high compared to last year.
Avocado prices have dropped, and the supply on the market is also limited. Last year, she could easily buy and sell 5-6 tons of 034 avocados every day. But this year, to buy 3-4 tons of 034 avocados, she has to mobilize many channels from farmers and smaller traders.
She buys these avocados mainly for export to markets in Cambodia and Thailand. "The low quality of the avocados is also a reason why the price isn't high," Ms. Tram added.
At traditional markets and e-commerce platforms, the price of avocados has not increased compared to last year, and purchasing activity is somewhat less vibrant.
According to Ms. Nguyen Kim Lanh, at the market in Dak Mam town (Krong No district), she bought 034 avocados directly from the orchard for only 10,000-22,000 VND/kg (depending on size).
According to Ms. Lanh, the low price of avocados is mainly due to decreased market demand. Previously, avocado variety 034 was only grown in Lam Dong , but now it is available in most provinces of the Central Highlands, with an area of tens of thousands of hectares.
Ms. Le Thi Thu Trang, from Hamlet 6, Dak Ha Commune (Dak Glong District), has over 3 hectares of avocado 034. This year, her avocado orchard only yielded about 19 tons of fruit per hectare, a decrease of about 10 tons per hectare compared to previous years.
According to Ms. Trang, the reason for the poor avocado crop is the erratic weather. Heavy rain and strong winds during the avocado flowering period resulted in low fruit set.
Unpredictable weather changes have also reduced the supply of top-quality avocados. “The yield is low, but initial sales haven't been very favorable either. Currently, avocados from the orchard are priced at around 12,000 VND/kg, compared to 20,000 VND/kg last year,” Ms. Trang said.
Avocado variety 034 is grown by farmers in most districts and cities. Many households report that this year their avocado orchards have suffered from a poor harvest, with few first-grade fruits (2 fruits per kilogram).
According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the area of avocado cultivation in the province has increased significantly in recent years. Specifically, in 2019, the total avocado area in the province was 3,794 hectares, with a production of 15,050 tons.
In 2020, the avocado growing area increased to 4,383 hectares, with a production of 18,992 tons. In 2021-2022, the entire province had approximately 4,500 hectares of avocados, with a production of about 21,000 tons.
The majority of avocado production in Dak Nong is currently sold fresh, without processing. The province has not yet developed sustainable value chains for avocado production, processing, and consumption.
Authorities are currently reassessing the effectiveness of avocado cultivation in various localities, taking into account the specific soil conditions, climate, varieties, and appropriate techniques. Farmers should not expand their planted area or cut down avocado varieties that are thriving.
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