Gia Lai: Farmers worried because of sharp drop in rice prices

(GLO)- Localities in the western region of Gia Lai province are entering the peak harvest season for the winter-spring rice crop. However, the sharp drop in rice prices and slow purchases by traders have made farmers worried.

Farmers in the western communes of the province are entering the peak harvest season of the winter-spring rice crop. Photo: Vu Chi

Lowest rice price in the last 2 years

Taking advantage of the sunny weather after days of heavy rain due to the impact of storm No. 9, Ms. Ksor H'Hoai's family (Tul hamlet, Ia Tul commune) proceeded to harvest the family's Dai Thom 8 rice field.

She said: The weather is relatively favorable so the rice grows well, the flowers are firm. However, from the beginning of September until now, due to the continuous impact of storms, more than 1 hectare of rice of the family has fallen 50%. Therefore, as soon as the weather clears, she urgently harvests to avoid the rice flowers soaking in water for too long, which will cause them to sprout, affecting the yield and quality.

“Last year, my family harvested nearly 8 tons/ha, selling for 7,500 VND/kg of fresh rice. However, this year, the yield was only 7.5 tons, while the price of rice dropped to only 5,400 VND/kg. After deducting expenses, my family only made a profit of more than 10 million VND/ha for nearly 4 months of cultivation. With this situation, I will probably have to switch to other crops next season,” Ms. H’Hoai said sadly.

The family of Ms. Le Thi Hong (Group 14, Ayun Pa Ward) has just harvested 7 sao of TBR97 rice with a yield of 5.6 tons/ha. Ms. Hong shared: “The price difference between fresh rice and dry rice is 1,500 VND/kg, but the erratic weather has forced the family to sell fresh rice at 5,100 VND/kg. This price is 2,000 VND/kg lower than the Winter-Spring crop. While the cost of investing in seeds and fertilizers is high, the family only makes a small profit. For households renting land, they are sure to lose money.”

Fresh rice prices are low, so many households dry and store rice, waiting for prices to rise. Photo: Vu Chi

The sharp drop in rice prices coupled with prolonged rainy weather has caused traders to only buy sparingly. Ms. Le Thi Dinh (trader in Ayun Pa) said: The decrease in export output has directly affected the domestic rice market. Meanwhile, many farmers have to harvest early to avoid rice falling due to storms and rains, accepting to sell rice at low prices.

Currently, fresh rice fluctuates between 5,100-5,500 VND/kg, dried rice 6,500-7,200 VND/kg depending on the rice variety. This is the lowest price in the past 2 years. However, due to prolonged rain, the drying machine capacity is overloaded, so the factory can only buy a limited quantity. Hopefully, in the coming time, the weather will be more favorable, the export market will improve, pushing the rice price up again, helping farmers and rice businesses make a profit.

Farmers in Ayun Pa ward harvest the winter-spring rice crop. Photo: Vu Chi

Finding a sustainable direction for rice

In the context of the current sharp drop in rice prices, localities recommend that people invest in high-quality rice varieties; at the same time, strengthen the linkage in the value chain between farmers - cooperatives - enterprises to limit the situation of being forced down by traders when the market fluctuates.

As one of the pioneering cooperatives in producing high-quality rice, in the 2025 crop, Chu A Thai Agricultural Cooperative cooperated with 70 members to deploy ST25, Dai Thom 8, and sticky rice 97 varieties on an area of ​​140 hectares.

Mr. Pham Ngoc Nghia, Director of the Cooperative, said: In about a week, the members of the Cooperative will begin harvesting the associated rice area. The Cooperative commits to purchasing from farmers at a price 200 VND/kg higher than the market price to maintain a sustainable source of raw materials for rice production as well as ensure that members can "live well" with the rice plants.

In order to support people in accessing high-quality rice varieties, in the 2025 crop season, the Regional Plant Protection and Cultivation Station 11 coordinated with the People's Committee of Ia Rbol Commune and ThaiBinh Seed Company Limited - Central Highlands to deploy a model of planting and intensive cultivation of high-quality rice variety OM468 on an area of ​​10 hectares with 34 participating households. When participating in the model, households are supported with rice varieties and are instructed by staff on care techniques and pest control.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan (right cover, Hoai hamlet, Ia Rbol commune) is instructed by an officer on techniques for caring for new rice varieties. Photo: Vu Chi

Mr. Huynh Dinh Hung, Head of the Plant Cultivation and Plant Protection Station of Region 11, said: If in the 2024 crop season, the model was implemented on an area of ​​1 hectare with 2 participating households, then in the 2025 crop season, the model attracted a large number of people to participate. This shows a change in people's thinking about rice production.

Thanks to the application of ICM process and integrated pest management in the fields, the amount of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides have all decreased, while rice yield has increased, reaching an average of 9 tons of fresh rice/ha. With the current fresh rice price of 5,100 VND/kg, after deducting expenses, farmers earn about 18.8 million VND/ha, 7.3 million VND/ha higher than fields outside the model.

As one of the households participating in the model, Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan (Hoai village) shared: "Last year, I participated in the model with an area of ​​0.5 hectares. Realizing the effectiveness, this year, I expanded it to the entire 2 hectares. The biggest advantage of this new rice variety is that it requires less fertilizer. Instead of having to fertilize 4 times/crop like other rice varieties, this crop I only fertilized twice. Thanks to that, investment costs have been significantly reduced. Although the price of rice has decreased this year, thanks to the high yield of more than 9 tons/ha, my family still makes a profit of over 20 million VND/ha."

Delegates visit the intensive cultivation model of OM468 rice variety in Hoai village field. Photo: Vu Chi

Mr. Pham Huu Hue , Deputy Director of ThaiBinh Seed Company Limited - Central Highlands, informed: With the desire to bring high-yield, high-quality rice varieties to farmers, in the 2025 crop season, the Company coordinated with localities to deploy 8 demonstration models of new rice varieties with an area of ​​over 500 hectares, attracting hundreds of households to participate.

The Company's technical staff and agricultural extension officers regularly visit the fields to guide people on how to sow, fertilize, and spray pesticides properly to avoid waste; at the same time, select a few households as pilot households for people to compare the effectiveness, thereby replicating the model. Through this, it aims to contribute to improving the quality of rice grains, bringing higher economic efficiency to farmers as well as maintaining the position of local rice in the market.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/gia-lai-nong-dan-lo-lang-vi-gia-lua-giam-sau-post567759.html