Nghia Dan: Growers "lost Tet" because tangerine prices fell
(Baonghean.vn) - It is currently the peak season for harvesting tangerines for Tet sale in many localities. However, in Nghia Dan district, Nghe An, farmers are facing a big disadvantage because tangerine prices are low.
Mr. Vo Trong Lich's family in Hong Yen hamlet, Nghia Hong commune has 1 hectare of tangerines, and has only harvested about 1/3 of the area, but the price of tangerines sold to retailers has dropped very low compared to previous years.
In previous years, his family sold copper at wholesale prices of 12,000 - 18,000 VND/kg. But this year the selling price to retailers is only 5,000 - 6,000 VND/kg.
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| Tangerines in Nghia Hong commune are harvested by locals, but very few traders come to buy them. Photo: Minh Thai |
Mr. Vo Trong Lich shared: “Working and waiting all year is not enough to pay for fertilizer and care. All expenses and shopping for Tet are focused on the tangerine tree. Yet...”.
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| This year's tangerines are big and beautiful, but prices are unstable. Photo: Minh Thai |
Like Mr. Lich's family, Mr. Nguyen Hong Son's family has about 1 hectare of tangerines. In previous years, tangerine trees helped his family overcome difficulties, allowing them to build a house and buy many convenient appliances for their home. However, this year, tangerine prices have dropped, and the family can only sell good tangerines for about 7,000 VND/kg.
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| PQ tangerine garden in Nghia Mai commune is grown by farmers according to VietGAP standards. Photo: Minh Thai |
According to Mr. Son, with the current price, people are forced to sell to compensate for the harvest. It is worth mentioning that the tangerines are sold at a very low price but not many people are looking to buy them. While it is the main season, the tangerines will ripen all at once, if they are not sold in time, the fruit will spoil.
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| In previous years, thanks to the tangerine growing model, Mr. Hoang Thanh Hoai's family in Chong village, Nghia Yen commune had a high income. Photo: Minh Thai |
This year, Nghia Dan district has about 260 hectares of tangerine crop, of which more than 100 hectares have been harvested, with a total output estimated at nearly 5,000 tons of fruit. In this district, many tangerine gardens have also been formed following VietGAP standards. Tangerine is considered a key crop in the economic development of local people - said Mr. Nguyen Huy Anh - Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture of Nghia Dan district./.
