Nghe An shallots price drops as people rush to plant

(Baonghean.vn) - Farmers in Nghi Loc (Nghe An) are harvesting spring onions. However, this year the price of this crop has dropped by half compared to last year because people rushed to plant it.

Farmers in Nghi Lam (Nghi Loc) harvest shallots. Photo: Thu Hien

The area of ​​chives planted in Nghi Loc communes this crop is about 180 hectares, an increase of 40 hectares compared to the same period last year. Of which, Nghi Lam, Nghi Thuan, Nghi Van, Nghi Kieu are the localities with the largest area of ​​chives in the district. Nghi Loc is also the locality with the largest chives planted in the province.

Nghi Lam is the key area of ​​shallots in Nghi Loc district with 60ha (an increase of 5ha compared to 2015). According to farmers: The price of shallots has decreased by half compared to the same period, and productivity has also decreased. Because many localities have expanded shallots, the purchasing price in the localities has decreased. Through harvest, the estimated yield is nearly 500kg of bulbs/sao (a decrease of 300kg/sao compared to 2015).

With a selling price of 17,000 - 20,000 VND/kg, 1 sao of shallots brings in approximately 10 million VND, each hectare of shallots brings in approximately 200 million VND (down nearly 50% compared to 2015).

Mr. Tran Van Binh - Vice Chairman of Nghi Lam Commune People's Committee added: "In the winter-spring crop of 2016-2017, Nghi Lam produced more than 60 hectares of shallots (an increase of 5 hectares compared to 2015). The area is planted in highlands where water sources are not available. This is a crop that is considered easy to grow, has few pests and diseases, and is drought-resistant. The crop season begins in August every year, farmers start sowing and harvesting in March of the following year."

The selling price of onions in Nghi Loc has halved compared to last year, to 17,000 VND/kg. Photo: Hong Vinh.

In Nghi Thuan, this is a low-lying area that is often flooded, so the productivity of shallots is not as good as that of semi-mountainous communes such as Nghi Kieu and Nghi Lam.

Tran Thi Luong, hamlet 6, Nghi Thuan commune, is a veteran in growing onions and said: "Last year, the most expensive time, the price of shallots sold on the market was from 50 to 60 thousand VND/kg, the cheapest was also 30 thousand VND/kg. However, this year it only fluctuates at 17 to 18 thousand VND/kg."

Currently, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nghi Loc district is also directing farmers to harvest shallots while taking care of and fertilizing corn plants to increase crop efficiency on the same area.

Hong Vinh - Thu Hien

(Nghi Loc Radio and Television Station)