Over 9,000 tons of pineapples from Quynh Luu (Nghe An) need processing plants.

(Baonghean.vn) - Without purchasing factories, nearly 90% of the pineapple production of farmers in Quynh Luu district depends on the informal market.

The entire Quynh Luu district has 700 hectares of pineapple cultivation, concentrated in the mountainous communes of Tan Thang, Quynh Thang, and Quynh Chau. At this time, farmers are entering the harvest season with great enthusiasm because the pineapple crop is bountiful. However, they are concerned because they have to find their own markets for the pineapples. There are no factories or businesses that are willing to partner with them to purchase the produce.

Farmers in Tan Thang commune, Quynh Luu district, are harvesting pineapples.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Phu from Tan Thang commune said: His family planted 3 hectares of Queen pineapple variety and has already harvested over 25 tons. This year, the pineapples developed well, yielding a high output estimated at 30 tons/ha. Even more encouraging is that at the beginning of the season, pineapples were priced at 6,000 - 7,000 VND/kg, higher than last year. It is estimated that 1 hectare of pineapples yields a profit of 120 - 130 million VND. However, most of the pineapple product depends on traders.

With favorable weather conditions, pineapple yields reached 28-30 tons/ha, and the price of pineapple is currently 6-7 thousand VND/kg, higher than the same period last year.

Tan Thang commune has 400 hectares of pineapple, of which about 100 hectares are currently growing, and the rest are in the harvesting season (the whole district has 700 hectares of pineapple). The Queen pineapple variety, introduced for cultivation, is drought-resistant, less susceptible to pests and diseases, and yields high productivity. Local farmers are genuinely worried during harvest season because no company or enterprise has yet signed a contract to purchase, process, and market the pineapples.

Mr. Lang Dinh Liem, Vice Chairman of the Tan Thang Commune People's Committee, said: "For a long time now, the Quynh Luu Concentrated Pineapple Juice Factory has stopped purchasing pineapples, so people have to sell them on the open market. Some years the factory bought only a little over 100 tons, then stopped buying altogether. The local government has repeatedly petitioned higher authorities to find a sustainable solution for the people, but so far there has been no resolution."

Traders come to buy pineapples directly from the farmers in the fields.

With its current area, Quynh Luu produces approximately 10,000 tons of pineapples, of which over 9,000 tons are purchased directly from farmers by traders and sold throughout the country. The remaining 200-300 tons are purchased by the Quynh Chau Fruit Juice Processing Factory.

Pineapples from Quynh Luu are mainly sold haphazardly in markets and stalls both within and outside the province.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dinh, Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Quynh Luu District, said that in 2012, the concentrated pineapple juice factory ceased production and changed its business model, leading to difficulties for pineapple growers in finding markets. Despite the unstable market, pineapple remains the main crop in the mountainous communes of Quynh Luu, so it cannot be abandoned. The district does not have the function of organizing markets for farmers, but only supports them in finding markets. Farmers need to assess the market situation to limit the area of ​​land planted with pineapples, avoiding the situation of "bumper harvest, low prices".

Viet Hung