What direction for Binh Thuan dragon fruit?

Narrowing market, falling dragon fruit prices, and low quality are causing many difficulties for people.

Currently, dragon fruit growers in Binh Thuan have not yet had time to celebrate the new market of New Zealand, but they are now facing the risk of falling dragon fruit prices and disease damage.

Since the beginning of May, the price of dragon fruit in Binh Thuan has shown signs of falling again. Currently, dragon fruit purchasing facilities are buying at prices ranging from 15,000 - 20,000 VND/kg depending on the type. The quality of dragon fruit at the end of the electricity season has also begun to decline due to white spots and planthoppers appearing after the recent rains.

Furthermore, the situation of informal trade with China has shown signs of slowing down. Many Vietnamese goods are stuck at the border gate, so purchasing businesses are only working at a moderate pace or temporarily stopping, not purchasing as strongly as before.

Thanh Trung Enterprise operates at a low level to help workers.

Ms. Huynh Thi Ngoanh, owner of Thanh Trung dragon fruit purchasing and exporting business, said that her business is currently operating at a loss so it is only operating at a moderate level. When she received the news that the New Zealand market would allow dragon fruit imports, her business was not very interested because the standards were too difficult.

“Opening a new market is almost impossible because it is difficult for even 1 out of 10 businesses to access it. Firstly, the standards are too high, and secondly, there is no money,” said Ms. Huynh Thi Ngoanh.

Meanwhile, in all over Binh Thuan province, people continue to plant new dragon fruit trees. Despite receiving negative information about the future of dragon fruit, many people still do not care because the immediate benefits are too great.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Hoang, Phu Xuan village, Ham My commune, Ham Thuan Nam, Binh Thuan said that at dragon fruit farms, people are still afraid of price reduction, but their lives depend on dragon fruit so they still grow it.

Mr. Nguyen Van Sau, the owner of a dragon fruit garden with more than 3,000 pillars but does not make electrical goods, only looking forward to the upcoming crop, said that at the beginning of the season, he hopes the price of dragon fruit will stay at 10,000/kg. Mr. Sau also hopes to have a new market to expand and develop dragon fruit.

The total dragon fruit area of ​​Binh Thuan province is currently more than 20,500 hectares, of which 18,600 hectares are producing products. The addition of the New Zealand market is a good thing, but in reality, penetrating this market or other markets such as the US, Korea, Japan, Europe is very difficult because it is necessary to comply with clean production processes and irradiation, pest treatment by hot steam method...

Mr. Mai Kieu, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Binh Thuan province, said that currently, how to take care of output, input and how to connect the four affiliated parties to ensure farmers' livelihoods is always a concern of all levels of departments in the province. The province is looking for new markets in the US, Japan, New Zealand... because currently 85% of dragon fruit is still exported to China.

The problem now is that in addition to finding new markets, localities need to pay attention and adjust the dragon fruit area appropriately. Recently, localities in the province have also punished many households that newly planted dragon fruit on rice fields...

In addition, Binh Thuan province needs to pay more attention to measures to improve the quality of dragon fruit, produce safe dragon fruit according to VietGAP, GlobalGap standards... Only then can the Binh Thuan dragon fruit brand reach far in the world market./.

According to vov