Eggplant prices have hit rock bottom, forcing many households to discard the harvested eggplant right in the fields.

Eggplant is an easy-to-grow crop in fertile soil, with low costs, and is cultivated in several localities such as Yen Thanh, Con Cuong, Anh Son, and Do Luong. In particular, several localities in Yen Thanh district have concentrated eggplant cultivation on a significant area. This year, eggplant growers suffered losses due to rock-bottom prices.

In Tay Thanh commune, for many years, there has been active transformation of the crop structure, with eggplant being considered a suitable choice, bringing significant income to hundreds of households.

However, this year the price of eggplant purchased by traders has dropped to only 2,000 - 3,000 VND/kg. This is the lowest price in many years.

Ms. Le Thi Muoi, residing in Tien Son hamlet, said: “Eggplant is harvested continuously from March to the end of June, yielding 4-5 harvests per month, each harvest producing about 200 kg of fruit. My family cultivates 2 sao (approximately 2,000 square meters) of eggplant. In previous years, the lowest price was 4,000-5,000 VND/kg, but now it's only 2,000-3,000 VND. The biggest worry is that traders are only buying small quantities now, and the eggplant has to be left to ripen beyond its optimal yield.”

In some eggplant fields, many ripe fruits are discarded at the base of the plants. Because traders don't buy all of them, the unsold ripe eggplants are harvested and thrown away to "clear the land" for the next crop.

It's not just Tay Thanh commune; Tien Thanh commune, another locality with a long tradition of growing eggplant, is also facing a dire situation. Mr. Phan Van Vu, Chairman of the People's Committee of Tien Thanh commune, said: "This year, the entire commune has about 20 hectares of eggplant. At the beginning of the season, the price was 5,000 - 7,000 VND/kg, but now it's only 1,000 - 2,000 VND/kg."

According to Mr. Thai Van Cam, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tay Thanh commune, the entire commune currently has nearly 20 hectares of green eggplant grown on fertile land. With good care, the yield can reach more than 20 tons/ha, equivalent to more than 400 tons of production per year. Eggplant is planted from the end of November and can be harvested continuously for more than two months.

However, this year, eggplant from northern provinces has been transported into the area, while limited supply has caused prices to drop.

In response to this situation, the People's Committee of Tay Thanh commune launched a "rescue eggplant" program. Initially, tons of eggplant were sold thanks to the joint efforts of agencies and organizations in the district.

This is not the first time farmers in Yen Thanh have faced the situation of "bumper harvest, low prices". Therefore, in addition to calling for consumption, it is necessary to have a production orientation linked to the market and diversify crops.