"Single-channel output"?

(Baonghean) - Watermelons are piling up in Lang Son, the convoys silently growing longer each day under the scorching sun, while the border crossing continues its slow, leisurely customs clearance process for entry into China, a situation no different from "stalling." Perhaps no word is more fitting than "heartbreaking" to witness the sweat and tears of farmers being "tormented" by this form of "house arrest" on this single, both literally and figuratively, road.

There were burst red-fleshed watermelons thrown onto the road in a dismissive manner, having simply succumbed to the heat after a long journey preserved in straw. Again, the sighs of the street vendors, the lamentations of the drivers, the bitter tears of the farmers, the expert explanations of the officials… the same familiar refrain, the same refrain from previous seasons, echoed through the main watermelon harvest.

Speaking at a recent press conference of the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Nguyen Duong Thai, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Customs, said: Every day, the Tan Thanh Border Gate Customs processes export procedures for 300 to 350 trucks of watermelons, but the actual number of trucks present at the border gate is 800 per day. Meanwhile, the border gate's capacity is only one-fifth of the actual number of trucks carrying agricultural products. Therefore, 400-500 trucks of watermelons and dragon fruit are stuck at the border gate. These trucks are lined up along National Highways 1 and 4A and the access roads to the border gate.

Reportedly, drawing on past experience, Lang Son province anticipated this traffic congestion situation. Therefore, as early as February 12th, the province established an inter-agency task force comprising representatives from the industry and trade, transportation, police, and border guards to coordinate the export of watermelons, dragon fruit, etc. This task force focused on monitoring the situation, proposing solutions to combat congestion, and managing traffic flow. Despite such proactive and thorough measures, the congestion persisted.

What is driving farmers' watermelons to the border crossing in such a massive influx? The answer is the market! It's no surprise; goods always move towards… buyers. And this year's buyers are the same customers as in previous years: China! Nothing different, nothing new, nothing… easily changed.

It seems people view the "Chinese" market as a lifeline simply because it's "easygoing"? First of all, the fact that we export our watermelons to China is a proactive acceptance of the low-end market segment. With our current cultivation methods, varieties, care techniques, and preservation technology, it will probably be a long time before we can penetrate high-end markets like Japan or Europe. One trader once stated: only China has "enough people" to consume all of our "raw watermelons"!

While the press reported that farmers were forced to eat their watermelons because they couldn't sell them, watermelons in many markets in Hanoi and Vinh City were still brazenly priced at 18,000 VND/kg. Feeling sorry for the farmers and angry at the "brutal" price gouging by intermediaries, young people recently launched a "one watermelon, one act of kindness" campaign to support farmers nationwide by offering watermelons for only 5,000 VND/kg. This is truly a meaningful, humane, and heartwarming initiative, and also a slap in the face to intermediaries who have a knack for inflating prices. Hundreds of tons of watermelons sold out instantly, bringing a sigh of relief.

Even the Ministry of Industry and Trade, considered the agency in charge of the long-standing "bumper harvest, low prices" phenomenon, mobilized its staff to buy tens of tons of rice from farmers. Undoubtedly, this is a noble and commendable gesture.

However, everyone knows that "a watermelon, a token of goodwill" is a charitable program. It's not a sustainable market "output." If things continue like this, will we soon have programs like "a red onion, a token of goodwill," then "a dragon fruit, a token of goodwill," or even "a peppercorn, a token of goodwill"?!

Is it possible that our melons are forever destined to be exported only to China? When will we be free from this dependence on "one market"? Why not regulate the supply? Why not invest in preservation technology to extend the shelf life? Why not improve quality to find other markets? Why aren't there canned melon juice or dried, clean melons produced right in the source region? Why can't fresh domestic melons be sold at the same price as the charity program?

The truth is, the market is the market, and it operates according to its own rules. Don't try to outsmart the market. Therefore, we need a strategy to break the "monopoly" of market outlets!

An Khanh