Link to solve output for agricultural products

(Baonghean) - In recent days, many agencies, units, and people have been concerned and shared with farmers about agricultural products that are difficult to sell. However, after temporary solutions, many agricultural products are still in a vicious cycle of good harvest - low prices. Therefore, the issue of what to plant and what to raise to stabilize life and get rich sustainably is a matter of concern for local authorities and people.

From pineapple price down...

Thanks to favorable weather and good care, this year's pineapple crop has been a bumper crop for farmers in Tan Thang, Quynh Thang, and Quynh Chau communes (Quynh Luu). However, low pineapple prices are making pineapple growers nervous and anxious. Mr. Vu Van Quy's family in Hamlet 2/9, Tan Thang Commune, grows more than 1 hectare of pineapple. After 18 months of care, his entire pineapple area is now ready for harvest. Mr. Quy said: Thanks to proper fertilization at each stage of growth and development, the pineapple trees are always green and produce a relatively high yield, reaching 2.5 to 2.6 tons/sao.

However, this year's pineapple price is lower than last year. If last year, farmers sold pineapples at the beginning of the season for 540,000 VND/quintal and at the end of the season for over 700,000 VND/quintal, this year when the pineapples are ripe, the price is from 350,000 - 400,000 VND/quintal. "After more than a year of investment and care, the price dropped to low levels during the harvest period, and output was difficult, so the producers are worried. To ensure stable production, we hope that the processing factory will buy the products for the farmers...", Mr. Vu Van Quy shared.

Farmers in Quynh Thang commune (Quynh Luu) harvest pineapples.

Tan Thang Commune is the locality with the largest pineapple growing area in Quynh Luu district, with 180 hectares. Local people and authorities consider pineapple as the main crop of the locality. This year, thanks to favorable natural conditions, few pests and diseases, favorable for pineapple growth, the yield reached 25 - 27 tons/ha, in some areas with better care, it reached 30 tons/ha, an increase of 3 - 7 tons compared to the previous crop. Although the pineapple yield is large, in recent years, no business has come forward to buy it, but mainly traders from the lowlands come to buy it. Therefore, the time when pineapples are ripe is also an opportunity for traders to squeeze prices. With the mentality of losing money if they sell, and suffering if they don't sell, people have to accept selling at low prices.

Quynh Luu district currently has nearly 600 hectares of pineapple. To somewhat limit the problem of good harvest, low price, the district's departments and branches are actively directing mountainous communes with pineapple intensive cultivation areas to review the entire area, and at the same time recommending that people do not expand the area massively, causing a surplus of products and supply exceeding demand. In addition, solutions are being researched to support farmers in finding output markets for their products.

...to the output orientation for Shan Tuyet tea

For a long time, Shan Tuyet tea has been grown in large quantities on the highlands of Ky Son district. In areas under the planning of the 8th Youth Volunteer Corps such as Muong Long and Huoi Tu, the output is relatively stable, but in Nam Can and Na Ngoi communes, the output is "trickle by drop".

Coming to the border commune of Nam Can when cadres, party members and people were preparing for the commune Party Congress. Mr. Xong Ba Cha - Chairman of the Commune Farmers' Association warmly welcomed us with a pot of hot Shan Tuyet tea. He said that Shan Tuyet tea trees have been attached to Nam Can land since 2006 due to investment in seeds by the National Defense Economic Group 4. The commune's tea area has grown to 16 hectares, mainly in the two villages of Tham Hin and Lien Son. In these two villages, almost every household grows tea, but currently the output for this product is very difficult. Many households have intended to destroy the tea growing area to switch to other types of trees, but are still hesitant because of the long-term care.

In Lien Son village, there are 55 households growing Shan Tuyet tea, of which the households of Tho Giong Va, Va Chay Xa, and Va Ba Cu grow the most. In 2006, Tho Giong Va's family planted 1.5 hectares. Shan Tuyet tea trees are suitable for the soil and climate of the highlands, so they grow very quickly and can be harvested after more than 1 year. Taking us to visit the tea hills, Mr. Tho Giong Va said: “Our family has been attached to tea trees for more than 10 years now. Back then, we invested in seeds and planted them without thinking about the output. Now, the 1.5 hectares of tea are higher than the head of a person, but we don’t know where to sell them all. Occasionally, some vendors from Hoa Binh Town come to buy a few bundles to resell. The price of a bundle of tea as big as an adult’s arm is only 10,000 VND, but they don’t buy it every day. It’s a pity, but we have to sell it because we can’t finish it all to drink, and no one would take it if we gave it away because every family has tea.” Going back to Tham Hin village, out of 47 households in the village, 40 grow Shan Tuyet tea. Talking to us, Mr. Va Giong Chua - Village Chief added: "Currently, in the village, many households have abandoned their tea hills and no longer invest in care. The area of ​​tea in the village is decreasing to make room for other plants such as cassava, pineapple, and ginger."

Shan Tuyet tea trees were planted by the Youth Volunteer Team 8 in Huoi Tu and Muong Long communes of Ky Son district more than 10 years ago. Tea growers in this area can rest assured because the tea buds of nearly 500 hectares were purchased by the Team for processing. The problem is that the Youth Volunteer Team 8 can connect with the authorities and tea growers in Nam Can and Na Ngoi communes to expand purchasing and processing. However, due to the remote and rugged terrain, the connection is facing many difficulties. Therefore, it is necessary to have the guidance and support of all levels and sectors to ensure stable consumption of Shan Tuyet tea products in the border area. Because Shan Tuyet tea trees have a rotation of exploitation for decades and are suitable for the Ky Son land.

Through the survey of the two agricultural products mentioned above, the lesson is not only for pineapples in Quynh Luu, because the spontaneous area has increased a lot compared to the needs of some factories and processing facilities - the consequences as mentioned, supply exceeds demand, product prices fall, even stagnation. As for Shan Tuyet tea in some communes of Ky Son, only the focus is on planting without considering the output for the product. The most important issue in agricultural production today is the link between farmers and businesses, factories, and processing facilities. This includes determining which plants to plant, which animals to raise, and the need for a stable planning area associated with purchasing, processing, and consumption.

Hong Dien - Dao Tho