Vinh orange crop failed, selling price higher than last year

This year, the orange crop in Nghe An fell into a state of severe crop failure, many gardens only harvested about 30-50% compared to previous years. The sharp decrease in output caused the price of Vinh oranges to increase by about 10,000 VND/kg, up to 60,000 VND/kg.

A failed Vinh orange crop

In early November, in many key Vinh orange growing areas of Nghe An , it is not difficult to see that this year's crop picture is much less colorful than previous years. Instead of the image of orange gardens laden with fruit, layers of golden yellow, signaling a bumper crop, many orchards are now sparse, with reduced output. Vinh orange, a famous agricultural brand, once the pride of Nghe An farmers, is experiencing an unprecedented crop failure in recent years.

People in Xa Doai orange area lost their harvest because of fruit falling in large numbers. Photo: QA

Nghi Loc Commune (formerly Dien Hoa Commune) has long been considered the cradle of the famous Xa Doai orange variety with golden heart - a fruit famous for its special aroma, sweet taste and high economic value. In good harvest years, each fruit costs 50,000 - 100,000 VND, becoming the main source of income for many households. However, this year, consecutive storms have caused the specialty orange area to fall into a state of heavy crop failure.

In Yen Phuc hamlet, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hue's family has more than 300 orange trees, but the prolonged rain caused more than 60% of the yield to fall off. In just a few days, a year's worth of work was wiped out, leaving her family in dire straits. Similarly, more than 100 orange trees owned by Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa were also flooded after the storm, their roots were exhausted, and almost all of their fruit fell off. Many trees are at risk of reduced productivity in the coming crops, putting his family in an unprecedented difficult situation.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hue's orange garden in Nghi Loc commune has seen a series of orange shedding, this year's crop is considered a failure. Photo: QA

The entire Nghi Loc commune has about 30 hectares of Xa Doai oranges, mainly concentrated in the old Dien Hoa area. The persistent rain and storms caused more than 50% of the output to be damaged, the most severe level in many years. Commune leaders assessed that this was a heavy blow to the lives of hundreds of orange-growing households, and at the same time, had a long-term impact on the specialty tree area with economic and cultural value of the locality.

Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee Nguyen Duc Kien said that the commune is urgently inspecting and calculating the damage to report to higher levels, as a basis for proposing support according to Resolution 16 of the Provincial People's Council. Restoring the specialty orange growing area in the context of climate change is identified as an urgent task to ensure livelihoods and preserve traditional agricultural brands.

Oranges are still on the tree but are diseased, with a high risk of falling off en masse. Photo: QA

The yield has decreased sharply, but the price of oranges has increased compared to last year. Ms. Le Thi Huong - owner of an orange garden in Dinh Hop village, Nhan Hoa commune (former Anh Son district) said that due to heavy rain and floods, her family's 2-hectare Xa Doai orange garden with golden core was submerged in water many times, causing nearly 50% of the oranges to fall off. "It has entered the harvest season, but because this year's yield is low, my family sells retail to customers right in the garden at 60,000 VND/kg, 10,000 VND/kg higher than last year. In previous years, the yield was high, so we sold to traders everywhere," Ms. Huong shared.

Ms. Le Thi Huong in Dinh Hop village, Nhan Hoa commune said that this year, many oranges have fallen, so the yield is lower than last year. Photo: XH

Quang Dong Commune is the old Vinh orange orchard of Yen Thanh district, and this year also fell into a situation of significant output reduction. Mr. Truong Van Bien - owner of a 5-hectare orange farm said that this year, 50% of the oranges fell off. The reason was the impact of storms No. 3, No. 5 and No. 10. "The oranges here do not fall off due to physiology and flooding, but because of strong storm winds, causing the orange trees to twist and drop fruit. Currently, the oranges are ripe and ready to be harvested, but it will be in the 10th lunar month that we will connect with traders for mass harvesting. Currently, the selling price at the garden for type 1 is 60,000 VND/kg (big, beautiful, juicy fruit), type 2 is 45,000 VND/kg, both types increased by 10,000 VND/kg compared to last year's orange crop".

Mr. Nguyen Cong Hieu - Head of the Economic Department of Quang Dong Commune People's Committee said: The whole commune currently has 130 hectares of Vinh oranges for harvest. This year, due to the impact of storms and rain, the amount of oranges falling is about 10% more than last year. Especially, in the orange gardens that are many years old, the amount of fruit falling is higher. By the beginning of the 10th lunar month, orange farms begin to harvest en masse.

There aren't many beautiful, juicy oranges like this one this year, so the selling price is higher than last year. Photo: XH

Forecast of supply shortage

Although orange prices have increased sharply, most farmers say this is not a good sign. This is because the sharp decrease in output has led to a decrease in income. In previous years, one hectare of oranges could yield 20 tons of fruit, but this year it will only yield 10-15 tons. People's calculations show that the cost of caring for one hectare of oranges each year ranges from 60-80 million VND. Therefore, even though the selling price is higher than last year, with low output, income will not be the same as last year.

Vinh oranges are famous for their mild aroma, juicy flesh and characteristic sweet taste, and are popular in the market. Photo: XH

One of the major reasons for this year's orange crop failure, in addition to pests and diseases, is the consecutive extreme weather events throughout the year.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc - Head of Nghe An Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection said that this year's prolonged rainy and stormy weather has caused Vinh oranges to lose about 30% of their output. The average yield is only 10 - 15 tons/ha, much lower than previous years, when orange gardens often yielded 20 tons/ha or more. The whole province currently has about 2,800 hectares of oranges ready for harvest, but the sharp decrease in output will cause a shortage in market supply.

Vinh oranges are famous for their mild aroma, juicy pulp and distinctive sweet taste, making them different from oranges from other regions. Therefore, every season, consumers in many places always look forward to and are ready to buy this specialty fruit.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/cam-vinh-mat-mua-gia-ban-cao-hon-nam-truoc-10311399.html