Mr. Du Van Thai, residing in An Lac hamlet, Binh An commune, Chau Thanh district, said: "First-grade green pineapples (fruits weighing 1kg or more) are currently priced at 12,000 VND/fruit, while second-grade pineapples (fruits weighing from 600 grams to less than 1kg) are priced at 6,000 VND/fruit. With 2 hectares of pineapples, Mr. Thai estimates he will harvest about 10,000 fruits by the end of the season."
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc, owner of a pineapple wine production facility in Kien Giang , although it's currently peak pineapple harvest season, the price of ripe pineapples is only 14,000 VND/kg. At this price, the cost of raw pineapples has doubled compared to the same period last year, yet they are still very difficult to buy. "Farmers are selling all their green pineapples to traders, while to make pineapple wine, I need 5,000 ripe pineapples," Ms. Ngoc shared.
Farmers in Binh An commune (Chau Thanh district) are harvesting Tac Cau pineapples.
Along with pineapples, betel nuts are also selling for 35,000 VND/kg, compared to only 2,000 VND/kg during the same period last year. At current prices, many betel nut farmers estimate a profit of 100-150 million VND/ha/year. Despite the high prices, pineapple and betel nut yields have decreased by about 50% due to prolonged drought and outbreaks of diseases affecting pineapples, leading to a sharp drop in productivity.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Kien Giang province, the province currently has more than 7,000 hectares of pineapple cultivation, concentrated in several districts such as Go Quao, Chau Thanh, Giong Rieng, Vinh Thuan, U Minh Thuong, Kien Luong, and Hon Dat.
Text and photos: DANG LINH
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