Squash yields, tangerines from Quy Hop fall all over the orchards.
Mandarin growers in Minh Hop commune, Quy Hop district, are facing an unprecedented slump in sales. Despite selling prices of only 2,500-3,000 VND/kg, very few traders are buying, resulting in mandarins falling to the ground in orchards and causing significant losses for farmers.
Even tangerines that are dirt cheap still can't find buyers.
At this time of year, visiting Minh Hop commune reveals orchards of ripening tangerines, but instead of being harvested, large quantities of ripe fruit are falling to the ground, with many rotting. According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Yen, a tangerine grower in Hamlet 8, the price of tangerines this year is only about 2,500 - 3,000 VND/kg, but they are still not selling. Ms. Yen said: "In previous years, the price of tangerines fluctuated from 8,000 - 10,000 VND/kg, and after deducting costs, we still made a profit. But for the past two years, the price has been low and it's been difficult to sell."
Ms. Yen's family owns 10 sao (approximately 1,000 square meters) of Phu Quoc tangerines, equivalent to nearly 300 trees, and this year they are expected to harvest about 10 tons. However, more than 4 tons of tangerines have fallen from the trees. There are still about 6 tons remaining on the trees, but they are also difficult to sell. If there is no market for them, she will have to let the tangerines ripen and fall, or even throw them away.
Mr. Tran Van Loi, another tangerine grower in Minh Hop, is facing a similar situation. His tangerine orchard is ripe, but no one is buying them. "For the past few days, I've had to dig holes to bury tons of rotting tangerines because I can't sell them. Now, anyone who wants to eat them can come and pick them; I'll give them away for free," Mr. Loi shared dejectedly.
Farmers are worried, and traders are hesitant.
Not only are tangerine growers facing difficulties, but traders are also complaining about weak demand. Mr. Nguyen Minh Hai, a trader who transports tangerines for sale within the province, said: "We buy tangerines from the orchards at 2,500 VND/kg, then pack them in boxes and transport them to rural markets for retail sale, but this year, sales are very slow."
Several tangerine growers in Minh Hop commune also reported that in recent years, the price of Phu Quoc tangerines has continuously dropped, not enough to cover the costs of fertilizer and care. This has made them worried about continuing to invest in subsequent seasons.
Faced with plummeting tangerine prices, many farmers are considering switching crops. Mr. Le Viet Minh, Director of Xuan Thanh Agricultural Company Limited, said: “Previously, the company had over 1,700 hectares of land planted with oranges and tangerines, but due to pest and disease problems, we have converted 1,200 hectares to sugarcane. We currently have about 27 hectares of tangerines, but the price is too low and they are difficult to sell. The economic efficiency from tangerines is very low, only about 25 million VND/hectare, while sugarcane can yield over 100 million VND/hectare.”
Therefore, according to Mr. Minh, the long-term solution is to encourage farmers to switch to crops with higher and more stable economic value, such as sugarcane. If they continue to grow tangerines, people need to find more stable markets instead of depending on traders.
