Nghe An: Rubber trees fell in large numbers due to sudden storm, selling price equal to firewood

Clip: Van Truong

Recorded in Tan Yen hamlet, Tan Phu commune (former Tan Ky district) - where the damage was quite severe, the scene of rows of broken rubber trees stretched hundreds of meters.

Mr. Pham Ngoc Khanh - a local resident shared: "The storm caused 250/300 rubber trees of my family to fall. These trees are between 15 and 25 years old, and are generating an income of 5-6 million VND per month from latex tapping. Now, my family not only loses a stable source of income but also cannot liquidate the fallen trees because the bark has been stripped, and traders refuse to buy them."

valve m3455 — Many rubber plantations in Tan Phu commune have collapsed but cannot be liquidated yet. Photo: Van Truong

Similarly, Ms. Pham Thi Bien - also a rubber grower in Tan Yen hamlet sadly said: "My family has more than 400 rubber trees, of which 300 have fallen. The trees are all in the age of strong exploitation, with an average monthly income from latex of about 7 million VND. We called traders to buy them, but they only paid 11 million VND for all 300 trees, which is not even equal to the price of firewood. We want to replant them but need some capital, and fallen trees cannot be sold for a good price, which is very difficult."

school 1 — Rubber trees were broken and their bark was stripped, causing traders to refuse to buy them. Photo: Van Truong

Mr. Vo Hong Diem - Director of Song Con Agricultural Joint Stock Company said: “The company has more than 700 hectares of rubber. The recent storm has broken more than 15,000 trees, equivalent to 30 hectares, with an estimated loss of over 6 billion VND. The concern is the loss of a stable source of income from rubber latex for hundreds of workers. Although the weather is currently favorable for liquidating trees to improve sugarcane land or replant rubber, selling broken trees is very difficult. The large quantity and poor quality cause traders to lower prices, only paying the same price as firewood.”

school 3 — Many rubber trees in Tan Phu commune were broken by storms and have not been cleared for replanting. Photo: Van Truong

In the same situation, in Thai Hoa ward and Nghia Dan commune, where Nghe An Coffee - Rubber Company Limited manages, there are currently more than 200 hectares of rubber trees (more than 112,500 trees) in the exploitation stage that have been broken due to the impact of heavy rain, strong winds and tornadoes.

van truong me4566 — People lost their source of income from rubber after their plantations collapsed. Photo: Van Truong

Mr. Hoang Thanh Tung - General Director of the Company said: "We have directed the contracted households to count the damaged area, urgently prune and clean the garden to prepare for replanting. However, the biggest problem is still the liquidation of fallen trees to replant rubber trees. Currently, traders are offering too low a price, making the recovery work even more difficult."