Nghe An: Hot weather, sugarcane price hits record high but still 'sold out'

Ms. Phan Thi Hanh's family in Giang Son Dong commune (Do Luong) has 7 sao of land specializing in growing sugarcane, including 2 sao of F34 sugarcane and 5 sao of super sweet sugarcane. This is the beginning of the harvest season, her family is busy cutting sugarcane to sell to traders.

People in Giang Son Dong commune, Do Luong district harvest sugarcane for refreshment. Photo: Ngoc Phuong

Ms. Hanh said: "Since the beginning of May, traders have come to buy sugarcane, but because the sugarcane is not old enough and sweet enough, I have not sold it yet. Now, as soon as I cut it, people come to buy it, so people are very excited because they have a good source of income."

Sugarcane for refreshment is planted from April to May every year and harvested 1 year later. This is an easy-to-grow crop, with very few pests and diseases, only occasional planthoppers but easy to treat, low fertilizer costs, only from 900 thousand to 1 million VND.

Due to high demand during hot weather, traders buy sugarcane as soon as it is harvested. Photo: Quang An

This is the beginning of the harvest season, plus the hot weather and the many refreshment shops that have sprung up, so sugarcane is consumed very strongly. Sugarcane prices have doubled compared to previous years, currently reaching 3 million VND/ton. With a yield of 3.5 tons/sao, after deducting costs, sugarcane growers earn a net profit of nearly 9 million VND/sao.

It is known that the whole Giang Son Dong commune has over 30 hectares of sugarcane, the most in Do Luong district.

Sugarcane prices are at a record high in recent years. Photo: Quang An

In Dien Chau district, growing sugarcane for refreshment has also been popular in recent years with the area increasing gradually over the years, currently reaching about 40 hectares, concentrated in Dien Dong and Dien Lien communes...

Sugarcane in Dien Chau is sold by the tree, not by weight, with the current price up to 10,000 VND/tree imported from the garden. If sold retail to the market, the price is even higher.

In Vinh City, the imported sugarcane price has increased, so the selling price on the market has also increased, currently fluctuating from 12,000 - 15,000 VND/tree, which is often not enough to sell, including customers who need home delivery.

Refreshment shops in Vinh City are crowded during the hot weather. Photo: Quang An

In hot weather, selling sugarcane juice is considered a "super profitable" business. On average, each imported sugarcane costs only 10,000 - 15,000 VND/plant but can be pressed to produce 4 cups of juice, sold for 5,000 - 10,000 VND/cup (depending on location). After deducting capital, each sugarcane gives the shop owner a profit of about 15,000 VND.

Currently, Nghe An province has 313.95 hectares of sugarcane, concentrated in Do Luong, Anh Son, Tan Ky, Dien Chau districts... This area is increasing due to high market demand.