Specialty avocado "long legs" price drops sharply

Avocado 034 has some advantages such as: beautiful appearance, long slender fruit, ripening time after picking is quite long, about 5-7 days. Avocado 034 flesh is thick, fatty, supple, small seed, easy to peel. Thanks to that, avocado 034 is favored by consumers.

dsc_0121(1).jpg — Avocado 034 has a beautiful appearance so it is popular with consumers.

About 10 years ago, this type of avocado caused a fever, with prices reaching up to 200,000 VND/kg at the beginning of the season. During the main season, the price of 034 avocado is about 50,000-60,000 VND/kg.

However, in the past 3 years, the price of this avocado has dropped sharply, now only a few tens of thousands of VND per kilogram. The market for 034 avocado is also facing many difficulties.

The current price of avocado 034 fluctuates only 12,000-20,000 VND/kg. Retail price at stores and fruit selling points ranges from 25,000-30,000 VND/kg.

According to Ms. Doan Thi Hong Tram, owner of a fruit purchasing facility in Nghia Trung ward (Gia Nghia), although it is just the beginning of the season, the price of 034 avocado is not high compared to last year.

Avocado prices have dropped, but market supply is also limited. Last year, she could easily purchase and sell 5-6 tons of 034 avocados per day. But this year, to buy 3-4 tons of 034 avocados, she had to mobilize many channels from gardeners and smaller traders.

She buys this avocado mainly for export to Cambodia and Thailand. “The low quality of the avocado is also the reason for the low price,” Ms. Tram added.

img_5129(1).jpg — Avocado 034 has a purchase price of 12,000-20,000 VND/kg

At traditional markets and e-commerce platforms, the price of avocado has not increased compared to last year and purchasing power is somewhat less vibrant.

According to Ms. Nguyen Kim Lanh, at Dak Mam town market (Krong No), she bought 034 avocados at the garden for only 10,000-22,000 VND/kg (depending on size).

The low price of avocados, according to Ms. Lanh, is mainly due to the decrease in consumption in the market. Previously, 034 avocados were only grown in Lam Dong , but now they are present in most of the Central Highlands provinces, with an area of up to tens of thousands of hectares.

Ms. Le Thi Thu Trang, village 6, Dak Ha commune (Dak Glong), has over 3 hectares of 034 avocado. This year, her avocado garden only produces about 19 tons of fruit/ha, a decrease of about 10 tons/ha compared to previous years.

dsc_0144(1).jpg — Ms. Trang's avocado garden 034 has fewer fruits than in 2022

According to Ms. Trang, the reason for the avocado crop failure is due to erratic weather. There was a lot of rain and wind during the flowering period, so the fruit yield was low.

Unusual weather changes also reduce the amount of grade 1 avocados. “The yield is low, but the initial consumption is not very favorable. Currently, avocados in the garden cost about 12,000 VND/kg. Meanwhile, last year it was 20,000 VND/kg,” said Ms. Trang.

034 avocado is grown by people in most districts and cities. Many households reported that this year the 034 avocado orchard had a bad harvest, and there were not many grade 1 fruits (2 fruits per 1kg).

img_5122(1).jpg — Avocado 034 crop failure, difficult output

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the province's avocado acreage has increased sharply in recent years. Specifically, in 2019, the province's avocado acreage was 3,794 hectares, with an output of 15,050 tons.

In 2020, the avocado area increased to 4,383 hectares, with an output of 18,992 tons. In 2021-2022, the whole province will have about 4,500 hectares of avocado, with an output of about 21,000 tons.

Most of the current avocado output in Dak Nong is sold fresh, unprocessed. The province has not yet formed value chains for sustainable avocado production, processing and consumption.

The authorities are re-evaluating the effectiveness of avocado trees in each locality based on the land, climate, variety, and appropriate techniques. Farmers should not expand the area or cut down avocado varieties that are growing well.

Source