At this time, many types of fruit are entering the final stage of the season with prices significantly reduced compared to the same period last year. Due to the lack of improvement in purchasing power in the market, both gardeners and retailers are cautious in cultivation and consumption.
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| Abundant supply, prices of many fruits have dropped sharply. |
Prices down, costs up
In recent years, the area of fruit trees has been continuously expanded, contributing to the supply of abundant fruit sources for the domestic and export markets. Thanks to that, farmers have increased their income and improved their lives. Due to the low prices of many types of fruit, the stagnant purchasing power has made consumption difficult, and farmers have difficulty achieving the expected profits.
Mr. Nguyen Van Phat - Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of Tich Phuoc Longan Cooperative (Tra On Commune) said: The Cooperative currently has more than 11 hectares of Ido longan. In the last crop, the yield only reached 70-80% due to unfavorable weather, output and selling price both decreased, while production costs increased sharply.
At the beginning of the season, Ido longan cost about 30,000 VND/kg, but more than a month ago the price dropped to 7,000-8,000 VND/kg. In the past 2 weeks, the price has increased by 10,000-12,000 VND/kg for large, beautiful fruits, but is still nearly 50% lower than the same period last year. "For example, DAP fertilizer cost 800,000 VND/50kg bag 2 months ago, but now it has increased to 1.1 million VND/bag. Labor costs have also increased, but the selling price has decreased, causing many difficulties for gardeners," said Mr. Phat.
According to Mr. Phat, the cooperative is encouraging members to maintain the cultivation area, preparing for the new longan crop in November. “We expect that on the occasion of the full moon and year-end festivals, the price of longan can reach 15,000 VND/kg or more so that farmers can make a profit. The cooperative also hopes to be supported in connecting with commercial enterprises to expand output, while increasing the application of farming techniques to reduce costs,” Mr. Phat shared.
Along with longan, guava prices have also dropped sharply. Specifically, ruby guava is only 10,000-12,000 VND/kg, queen guava is 4,500-5,000 VND/kg, even Taiwanese guava is down to 2,000-2,500 VND/kg. Meanwhile, retail prices on the market 2 months ago were much higher: ruby guava 30,000-32,000 VND/kg, queen guava 26,000-28,000 VND/kg, pear guava 20,000-22,000 VND/kg. Ms. Le Thi Dia (Tich Khanh hamlet, Tra On commune) said: “I have been growing guava for more than 5 years. Usually at this time, many other fruits are out of season so guava prices are good. But this year, the price is very low, causing many households to abandon their guava trees and switch to other types of fruit. I am considering keeping the garden, but I am also worried because I do not know what the situation will be like in the future. I really hope that fruit prices will recover soon and the consumption market will stabilize again.”
Purchasing power does not increase
According to records, the fruit market this year is quite abundant in terms of variety and output. However, consumption is somewhat slower than the same period last year. Fruit prices have decreased but have not created a strong attraction, leading to a situation where farmers have difficulty selling, while retailers have limited their imports. Some fruit retailers said that the reason is that the harvest season of many types of fruit "collides" with products from other regions such as lychee, plum, avocado, creating great competitive pressure. In addition, consumers are increasingly cautious in spending, prioritizing more essential items.
Ms. Truong To Phuong, a fruit vendor at Vinh Long market (Long Chau ward) said: “The supply of goods is abundant, but purchasing power is low, so I only import enough. Fruit is fresh, difficult to preserve, and if imported in large quantities, it is easy to spoil.” According to Ms. Phuong, many specialty fruits have lower prices than last year, such as rambutan, longan, mango, grapefruit, etc., but the market is still slow to consume due to competition with similar fruits.
Many consumers say that the fruit market is currently rich, from domestic to imported goods, giving consumers many choices. In the context of tightening spending, many people limit their shopping and increasingly pay attention to quality, origin, as well as food safety factors. Mr. Nguyen Minh Khoa (Long Chau ward) shared: "I often choose to buy fruit at reputable stores, even though the price is a bit higher, but I can rest assured about the origin. There are many types of cheap fruit on the market, but if the origin is unknown, it is difficult to ensure the quality."
It can be seen that fruit prices have decreased but purchasing power has not increased, causing difficulties for both farmers and retailers. While gardeners have to bear the burden of increased production costs, retailers are also in a "holding back" position because the consumption market is slow.
Need to strengthen chain linkage
According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, in recent months, agricultural product prices have fluctuated a lot, with prices of agricultural products falling during the peak harvest season. In particular, the prices of some fruits are low, causing farmers to suffer losses, while the prices of agricultural materials are still high, affecting people's income. In addition, the situation of fragmented, small-scale production, lack of production linkages; unplanned production has not been controlled.
Mr. Lam Van Tan - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment: In the coming time, the agricultural sector will focus on improving ineffective fruit orchards. Focus on developing key fruit production areas in localities. Promote the use of high-yield, high-quality, pest-resistant crop varieties, apply sustainable farming practices, reduce costs, and strictly control the use of input materials. At the same time, strengthen the connection between farmers, farmer organizations and consumer enterprises to stabilize output and expand consumer markets for farmers. |
According to experts, the situation of “good harvest, low price, good price, bad harvest” will continue if there are no substantial changes in production thinking and agricultural market organization mechanism. Therefore, to overcome difficulties, it is necessary to strengthen the value chain linkage from production to consumption, expand modern distribution channels and support farmers in applying farming techniques to improve product quality.
Currently, many types of fruit are still consumed mainly in fresh form, which is difficult to preserve and transport over long distances, leading to low added value and the risk of "market flooding". Therefore, the relevant authorities need to focus on supporting the preservation and processing stages, while promoting and building brands to help products better meet the needs of safe and clear-origin consumers.
Article and photos: SONG THAO
Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/kinh-te/thi-truong/202508/gia-trai-cay-giam-nha-vuon-gap-kho-95417e2/
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