Onion prices in Nghe An have plummeted, and farmers are harvesting only what they can.
In Nghe An's key shallot-growing regions, the main harvest season is underway, but prices have dropped sharply and sales are difficult, so farmers are harvesting only sporadically...
At this time of year, the shallot plants have shed all their leaves, and the bulbs are mature and firm, but only a few people are harvesting in the shallot fields of Nghi Lam commune. Mr. Sy Cuong's family (Nghi Lam commune, Nghi Loc district) cultivates 2 sao (approximately 2,000 square meters) of shallots. In previous years, the price of shallots was high at the beginning of the season, so they harvested and sold everything. This year, the price is low, has dropped sharply, and is difficult to sell, so they only harvest when customers inquire about buying them.”
It's not just Mr. Cuong's family; most onion-growing households in Nghi Lam commune are harvesting shallots cautiously. They only sell the shallots if a customer places an order, otherwise they have to temporarily stop and wait for the price to rise.
According to statistics, in the 2025 onion crop season, Nghi Lam commune had 85 hectares of onions, with an estimated yield of 11 tons/ha. While last year, the price of shallots was 60,000-70,000 VND/kg at the beginning of the season, then gradually decreased to 40,000-50,000 VND/kg, this year, the price of shallots only fluctuates between 25,000-28,000 VND/kg.
Ms. Le Thi Duyen, an agricultural official in Nghi Lam commune, said: “This year, the onion crop is abundant and the yield is high, but the price has dropped, making it difficult to sell, so people are facing many difficulties. Currently, farmers are harvesting cautiously, but they can only keep the onions in the fields for a short time because if left for too long, the onions will become too old, float to the surface, change color, and deteriorate, making them difficult to sell. Moreover, they also need to harvest the onions to plant other crops in the next season.”
As someone who buys shallots from local farmers and distributes them elsewhere, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lam is currently suspending her purchasing activities due to a lack of buyers. "These past few days, the price has dropped, and I've contacted everywhere but can't find any shallots, so I've temporarily stopped buying. The difficulty is that shallots are hard to preserve; if left for too long, they lose water, causing weight loss and financial losses," Ms. Lam explained.
In Nghi Thuan commune (Nghi Loc district), where more than 80 hectares of shallots are currently being grown, prices are also plummeting. Shallots are currently in their main harvest season, with the leaves wilting, but farmers are worried as traders are buying sparingly and prices have dropped.
"My family grows over 4 acres of shallots. This year, the shallots are large, uniform, and beautiful, but the price is too low, only half of last year's. Nearly 8 months of planting, caring for, and harvesting the shallots takes a lot of time and effort, but with the current price, farmers are barely making any profit," said Ms. Hoang Thi Nham (Khanh Thien hamlet, Nghi Thuan commune).
Ms. Nham added that at this time last year, in order to meet orders from traders, the price of onions was high, so she had to mobilize the whole family to harvest onions, working even during lunchtime, and sometimes even hiring extra people. This year, onions are difficult to sell, so she is the only one harvesting them sporadically, about 20-30 kg each day.
"For one sao (approximately 1000 square meters) of shallots, we have to spend 7-8 million VND on land preparation, seeds, fertilizer, straw, rice husks, etc. After 8 months plus the labor for care, harvesting is also labor-intensive. With the current shallot prices, each sao yields about 13 million VND, but after deducting expenses, only 5 million VND remains for 8 months of care and harvesting," Mrs. Nham sighed.
According to statistics from the Nghi Loc District Department of Agriculture, nearly 300 hectares of land in the district are planted with shallots, yielding 9-10 tons per hectare. Shallots are most concentrated in Nghi Thuan, Nghi Lam, and Nghi Van communes. Although shallots from Nghi Thuan and Nghi Lam communes have achieved OCOP 3-star certification and are produced according to VietGAP standards, their output still depends on traders. When the market becomes saturated and prices drop sharply, selling shallots becomes very difficult.
Unable to rely entirely on traders, many households have resorted to selling their produce through social media, retail sales at local markets, connecting with companies that process dried eel and dried onions, and sending goods via acquaintances in other provinces for resale. However, with quantities reaching thousands of tons, these small-scale distribution channels are insufficient. Local authorities need to focus on linking production to market outlets for onions and ensuring onion cultivation aligns with market demand.
