BTO-In May, when the cashew harvest season ends in the cashew orchards, those without stable jobs have the opportunity to earn a living by “picking” cashew nuts. Although the work is hard, going from morning to evening, wandering from one cashew orchard to another, they still persevere and make a living.
Early in the morning, the May weather was still hot and stuffy, Ms. Tran Thi Thanh's group of 4 people, permanent residents of Lac Ha quarter, Lac Tanh town, Tanh Linh district, arrived at the cashew plantation in the Don My area bordering 3 communes Gia Huynh, Duc Thuan and Lac Tanh town.
Temporarily leaving two old motorbikes under a corner of a cashew tree that was too big for one person to hug, they took out tools including a bamboo pole about 3-4 meters long, a plastic basket, a bag and a water bottle and started to make a living collecting cashew nuts. The 4 people split into 4 directions to search for the remaining ripe yellow cashew nuts hidden behind the green leaves to dig down and pick the nuts and put them in a plastic basket or a bag worn on their body.
Unable to find any more cashews on the trees, they turned their eyes to the ground to pick up the dried cashew nuts that had fallen long ago under the cashew leaves. Although the cashew canopy protected them from the harsh sunlight, sweat continued to pour out. Their shirts were soaked with sweat, but the women still diligently went from tree to tree, from cashew garden to cashew garden to find and pick up the remaining cashew nuts.
Ms. Thanh was also tired and thirsty, so she took out a bottle of water from her basket and took a long drink and said: "Gathering cashew nuts is very hard, having to look up at the trees all day makes my neck sore. The flat cashew fields are still bearable, but the steep cashew fields, if you are not careful, you can slip and fall, and the sharp branches can poke your face and eyes, which is very dangerous." Feeling less tired, Ms. Thanh continued her work. While walking, she said: "Take advantage of the sunny weather to pick up cashew nuts, because when the rainy season comes, the cashew nuts are very bad, they are infected with pests and foam, and the nuts are full of water and can be sold at a very low price."
It was late afternoon, the cashew plantations had been searched, the women returned to the original location where they parked their vehicles to collect their tools, put the cashew nuts they had collected all day in bags and tied them up to take home to sell. Ms. Le Thi Yen, around 50 years old and also the oldest person in Ms. Thanh's group, shared: In recent years, every cashew season, the women have gone to pick up cashew nuts to earn extra money to support their families.
This year's cashew season, the women have been going for about a week. Each day, the group also earns about two bunches of cashew nuts, about 40-50 kg. The current selling price is 25,000 VND/kg. Each person earns from 200,000 VND to 300,000 VND per day. Because they live near each other and are friends, the women work together, not on their own like other groups. All the cashew nuts they collect are sold and the money is divided equally among themselves. Everyone smiles happily and promises to continue collecting cashew nuts tomorrow.
Tanh Linh district has over 5,770 hectares of cashew, of which 5,470 hectares are currently being harvested, with an estimated average yield of 6.4 quintals/hectare and an output of 3,508 tons. This year's cashew crop was dry in some areas due to hot weather and frost, resulting in low yields. Although cashew prices are still low, compared to previous years, this year's cashew prices are relatively stable (28,500 VND/kg at the beginning of the season and now 24,500 VND/kg). Whether the harvest is good or bad, cashew pickers like Ms. Thanh's group in Lac Ha neighborhood still persevere in their fields to make a living.
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