Solving the problem of "good harvest, low price"

VH6 pear is expected to be a key crop to help reduce poverty and bring sustainable income to people in the highlands. However, the sharp drop in pear prices this year has caused many households to worry. Many families have been forced to sell their entire gardens to traders at prices much lower than last year.

VH6 pear is expected to be a crop that helps bring sustainable income to Si Ma Cai people.

In Seo Can Ho village, Ms. Sung Thi Dong has just sold her entire garden of more than 200 pear trees. Ms. Dong shared: I sold the whole garden to a trader because if we let them ripen at the same time, our family's labor force would not be able to harvest them in time. Last year, the family sold for about 60 million VND; this year, traders paid 35 million VND, after expenses, we only have about 30 million VND left.

Ms. Dong added that the increasing input costs are increasing the pressure on farmers. While the price of large fruits last year was 45-50 thousand VND/kg, now it is only 33-35 thousand VND/kg (and customers have to order in advance). If they bring them to the market to sell, traders will choose beautiful fruits to lower the price, and the remaining fruits will be difficult to sell.

Ms. Giang Thi Pang, a trader in Lung Phinh commune, said that the purchasing price of pears this year had to decrease according to the market. “The selling price of pears on the market this year has decreased, so we buy from people at a lower price than last year. Each garden calculates by area, agrees on a price, and then deposits 30% in advance, and pays the full amount after harvesting. This year, the selling price is also cheaper, so the profit is less, some gardens even lose money.

According to Ms. Pang, the main output is still the local market, selling far away is only through a few familiar contacts, while transportation costs are high, reducing competitiveness.

Ms. Bui Thi Chung, Director of the Agricultural Service Center of Simacai commune, talked with people of Seo Can Ho village.

Ms. Bui Thi Chung, Director of the Agricultural Service Center of Si Ma Cai commune, said that the whole commune currently has more than 842 hectares of temperate fruit trees, of which pears and plums account for more than 300 hectares, with more than 600 households participating in planting.

“In recent years, the quality of VH6 pears has improved thanks to technical training. However, this year, output has increased because many new orchards have fruit but demand has decreased, causing prices to drop,” said Ms. Bui Thi Chung.

Through research, we learned that the price of large fruits at the beginning of the season last year could be up to 50-60 thousand VND/kg, in the middle of the season it was 40-50 thousand VND/kg, but this year it is only 30-40 thousand VND/kg. The locality is studying solutions such as planning uniform quality growing areas, developing deep processing (making juice, jam) to take advantage of qualified products to sell to supermarkets. At the same time, the pear garden experience tourism model is also considered a direction to increase product value.

Mr. Truong Van Tien, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Si Ma Cai Commune, said that the locality has been focusing on removing difficulties in output for farmers. Right in this crop, the commune has directed the Agricultural Service Center to coordinate with purchasing agents and familiar traders to consume products. At the same time, promote product sales on e-commerce platforms (Lazada, Shopee, TikTok). Currently, the commune has 2 3-star OCOP products: Ta Van Si Ma Cai plum and Si Ma Cai pear. We are improving the quality to affirm the Si Ma Cai pear brand.

Traders come to buy pears in the garden in Seo Can Ho village.

Mr. Tien also emphasized that transportation infrastructure is still a major obstacle. Si Ma Cai is more than 100 km from the old provincial center, and difficult roads increase transportation costs and reduce competitiveness.

“The commune will continue to provide technical training, connect with e-commerce, and renovate old gardens to stabilize output and quality. The long-term goal is to help pear trees become a key crop, truly bringing sustainable income to farmers in the highlands,” Mr. Tien added.

VH6 pear has become a famous specialty of Si Ma Cai. However, to build a sustainable and competitive OCOP brand in the market, the locality needs fundamental solutions in infrastructure, logistics, deep processing and consumption connection. This is a problem that growers, traders and local authorities need to coordinate closely to solve in the coming seasons.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/giai-bai-toan-duoc-mua-rot-gia-post648852.html