Pumpkin prices drop, Nghe An farmers find ways to avoid losses

These days, farmers in Quynh Lien commune (Hoang Mai town) are actively going to the fields to harvest.pumpkin, these are the main crops in the local autumn-winter crop. Mr. Nguyen Van Vy, Dai Dong village, Quynh Lien commune said: "My family has been growing squash for many years. This autumn-winter crop, my family planted 5 sao of squash, the seeding time is from September 2023, after 2.5 months it will be harvested. Compared to last year, the price of squash this year has decreased sharply, at the beginning of the season it was only 3,500 VND/kg, now it is 6,000 VND/kg".

This autumn-winter crop, Hanh Lam commune (Thanh Chuong) also converted from 3.5 hectares of traditional corn to commercial pumpkin cultivation. Currently, people are in the harvest season. Pumpkin is being purchased at the field at a price of 3,700 - 6,000 VND/kg. "This price is lower than last year by 3,000 - 5,000 VND/kg. However, people still make a profit, although not high. In return, the pumpkin crop is good, so people are quite excited," said Mr. Nguyen Thanh Luan - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Hanh Lam commune.

Growing 2 hectares of off-season green squash, with an estimated yield of 60 tons/hectare, Mr. Luu Van Thang (Nam Thanh commune, Nam Dan) said: "Growing on A-frame trellises, each hectare costs about 120-130 million VND, not to mention the cost of care, hiring workers for pollination, harvesting... if the squash price is 3,000 VND/kg, it is a loss, but if it is 4,000 VND/kg, the labor is used as profit. The squash price must fluctuate around 5,000 VND/kg for squash growers to make a profit."

The reason why the price of squash is low is because at this time, localities across the country can grow squash, the output is high, causing pressure on the consumption market, while green vegetables are also in harvest season.

“The price of pumpkin in the winter-spring crop is high, at times up to 20,000 VND/kg, because pumpkin growing in the northern localities has almost stopped due to the cold. The price of pumpkin in the summer-autumn crop is also high, fluctuating between 7,000 - 12,000 VND/kg because of the heat and drought, only areas with favorable irrigation water can produce,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Oanh, a farmer.traderspecializes in purchasing vegetables for consumption in Laos, Hanoi and Da Nang.

Grasping this law of supply and demand, many localities have found ways to "avoid" growing the autumn-winter squash crop. For example, in Thanh Hoa commune (Thanh Chuong), in the winter-spring crop, the area of ​​green squash is up to 10 hectares, but in the autumn-winter crop, people only grow 2 hectares.

“In previous years, growing squash at this time was difficult to sell and the price was low, so this year we stopped growing it. Instead, we are growing biomass corn to sell to livestock farms,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Dao, a squash grower in Thanh Hoa commune.

Or, many households, this season, grow both squash and short-term vegetables to increase income. For example, many households in Dai Dong village (Quynh Lien commune) grow short-term vegetables such as turnips, mustard greens, chrysanthemum greens, etc. in squash.

Mr. Nguyen Van Vy said: “Intercropping from the time of planting squash until harvest can grow a crop of vegetables for about 20-30 days. After harvesting vegetables, prepare the soil and build beds for squash. This intercropping not only helps to reduce squash weeds but also brings in extra income. Like this year, when squash prices are low, the income from vegetables is recovered.”

As for Mr. Nguyen Quang Ha (Thanh Xuan commune, Thanh Chuong), he still maintains growing winter squash, but on an area of ​​1 hectare, he plants many times, each time about 15 days apart so as not to harvest at the same time, reducing the pressure of consumption. At the same time, before planting, he contacted traders in the province in advance, agreed on purchasing in advance and then decided on the area to plant.

In addition, with the characteristic of preserving squash for a long time, whenmarket“hit rock bottom”, many people are not in a hurry to harvest and sell, but after harvesting, they store the goods, “hoarding goods waiting for the price” to sell. “At the beginning of the season, the harvest is in full swing, so the price of squash is only 3,000 VND/kg. Growing 5 sao of squash, I only cut and sell the bad and damaged ones, the rest I harvest gradually, stack and store in a well-ventilated place.

After nearly a month, the squash is still fresh and delicious, and now, when the price reaches 6,000 - 7,000 VND/kg, I will import it for traders. That way, I still make a profit," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Duong, a squash grower in Thanh Lien commune (Thanh Chuong).

At this time, not only the price of squash is low, but vegetables such as bitter melon, carrots, cabbage, etc. are also decreasing and consumption is slower. Therefore, agricultural production, to minimize the situation of "good harvest, low price", must grasp the general crop calendar of the whole country; the advantages of the locality to plant at the right time, suitable area; strengthen the connection between production and consumption traders; find ways to preserve after harvest; improve intercropping techniques.../.