Cashew prices remain high.

Currently, in key cashew-growing areas of Ho Chi Minh City, farmers are entering the peak harvesting season. Despite adverse weather conditions causing a significant drop in yield, the sustained high price of cashews has helped growers offset costs, stabilize their livelihoods, and continue to cultivate this crop.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thiet, residing in Hamlet 16, Hoa Hoi Commune ( Ho Chi Minh City), is harvesting cashew nuts.

Currently, the price of fresh cashew nuts purchased by traders at the farm ranges from 35,000 to 36,000 VND/kg, about 5,000 to 6,000 VND/kg higher than the same period last year. This is considered a positive price level in the context of continuously rising agricultural input costs, contributing to motivating farmers to maintain production.

In Hoa Hoi commune, the harvesting season is in full swing. Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thiet's family, residing in Hamlet 16, with over 3 hectares of cashew trees planted more than 20 years ago, is busy with the harvest. However, according to Mr. Thiet, this year's cashew crop is not as favorable as in previous years. The trees experienced unseasonal rains during flowering, coupled with frost, which caused many flowers to dry out and fall off, leading to a significant decrease in yield.

"This year's yield is expected to be only about 2 tons/ha, a decrease of one-third compared to last year. However, thanks to the stable and high price of cashews, after deducting the costs of fertilizers and pesticides, the family can still earn a profit of nearly 200 million VND," Mr. Thiet said.

According to him, cashew trees have the advantage of low maintenance costs, so even if yields decrease, growers can still maintain profitability when selling prices are favorable.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thiet, residing in Hamlet 16, Hoa Hoi Commune (Ho Chi Minh City), is harvesting cashew nuts.

A similar situation is occurring in many other localities. Mr. Hoang Sinh's family, in Song Xoai 3 village, Kim Long commune, reported that this year's yield was only slightly over 1 ton/ha, a decrease of over 30% compared to previous years. The main reason remains the unusual weather patterns during the flowering and fruiting stages. However, the stable price of cashews over a long period has helped his family alleviate some of the economic pressure.

In Bau Lam commune, the area with the largest cashew growing region in the city after the merger, with over 200 hectares, farmers are entering the peak harvesting season. Mr. Pham Thanh Duy, residing in Tay 2 hamlet, said his family has 5 hectares of cashew trees that have been planted for over 30 years. This year, they expect to harvest about 11 tons, a decrease of 3 tons compared to the previous season. Notably, the price of cashews this year is not only high but also remains stable for a long time. "At this time last year, the price had dropped to around 30,000 VND/kg, but this year, even near the end of the season, it has remained around 35,000 - 36,000 VND/kg. This is quite rare and gives farmers more peace of mind," he shared.

Mr. Pham Thanh Duy, residing in Hamlet 2 Tay, Bau Lam Commune (Ho Chi Minh City), is harvesting cashew nuts.

The high price of cashews has helped growers balance production costs, especially in the context of rising prices for fertilizers, pesticides, and labor. However, the reality is that declining yields remain a worrying issue, affecting the long-term profitability of the cashew industry.

According to Mr. Bui Vinh Chau, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Bau Lam commune, many cashew orchards in the area have entered the peak harvesting season. Although the harvest did not meet expectations, thanks to good prices, farmers still have a stable income. Mr. Chau said that unseasonal rains at the beginning of the season negatively impacted the flowering process, causing a decrease in yield.

In addition, the area planted with cashew trees in the locality is tending to shrink. Many households are switching to other crops with higher economic value. However, for areas with arid land and lack of irrigation water, cashew trees remain a suitable choice due to their good drought tolerance and low maintenance requirements.

"Although the income from cashew trees is not as high as some other crops, given the unfavorable land conditions, many households still maintain cultivation to stabilize their livelihoods," Mr. Chau added.

To support farmers, the City's Farmers' Support Fund has implemented many loan programs in recent times. In Bau Lam commune alone, three cashew planting and cultivation projects have received disbursements totaling over 2 billion VND, supporting over 20 households, with each household borrowing approximately 100 million VND. This capital helps people improve their orchards, invest in better care, and hopefully increase productivity in subsequent harvests.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture, cashew trees have many advantages such as being easy to grow, drought-tolerant, and having low investment costs. However, this type of tree is quite sensitive to weather conditions, easily affected by unseasonal rains or frost, leading to reduced yields. In addition, cashew prices on the market are volatile, causing many households to lack stable income.

Recent years have shown that many households in key cashew-growing areas have removed their cashew trees to switch to other crops with higher economic value. By the end of 2025, the cashew area in Ho Chi Minh City will be approximately 7,400 hectares, a decrease of nearly 200 hectares compared to the previous year. The average yield for this year's cashew crop is about 13.4 quintals/hectare.

Faced with this situation, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Environment has been implementing various solutions to improve production efficiency. Accordingly, the city focuses on supporting high-yield cashew varieties, improving orchards, providing technical guidance on cultivation and pest control. At the same time, it facilitates farmers' access to preferential loans for reinvestment after each harvest.

Specialized agencies also advise farmers to focus their investment on cashew growing areas with stable yields. Crop conversion should be carefully considered, avoiding the pursuit of short-term profits while neglecting soil conditions and water resources.

In the context of increasingly evident climate change, maintaining and developing cashew cultivation in a sustainable manner is an urgent requirement. Not only does it ensure livelihoods for people in disadvantaged areas, but cashew cultivation also contributes to stabilizing the agricultural structure and developing the local economy.

Despite numerous challenges, with support from the government, relevant agencies, and the efforts of farmers, cashew trees are still asserting their role as one of the key crops in many disadvantaged areas of Ho Chi Minh City. The high price of cashews this year is a positive sign, creating confidence for growers to continue cultivating this crop in the future.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/gia-dieu-duy-tri-o-muc-cao-20260417114726212.htm