Chayote in Nghe An only sells for 500 VND/kg.

Located along the coastal tourist route passing through Quynh Lien commune (Hoang Mai town), the locals are currently harvesting chayote. Many chayote plants are piled up on the shore, waiting for traders to come and buy them.

Mr. Ho Van Dong, residing in Hamlet 8, Quynh Lien Commune, stated that the main chayote harvest season is currently underway. This year, favorable weather conditions have resulted in high yields and abundant fruit. However, traders are only buying at 500 VND/kg at this time, discouraging farmers from harvesting. If this situation continues, all households will suffer losses.

Mr. Ho Van Dong, from Quynh Lien commune, who grows 12 sao (approximately 12,000 square meters) of chayote, said that with a price of 500 VND/kg, if the price continues until the end of the season, each sao will result in a loss of more than 10 million VND. Photo: Viet Hung

“My family planted 12 acres of chayote in the seventh lunar month, and we’ve been harvesting it for two months now. Initially, the price was stable at 3,000 VND/kg, then it dropped to 2,500 VND; for more than a week now, the selling price at the field has only been 500 VND. If this price continues, farmers will lose 10 million VND per acre of chayote,” Mr. Dong said.

The entire Quynh Lien commune has over 300 hectares dedicated to vegetable cultivation. During the winter-spring season, the local people plant more than 70 hectares of chayote. According to statistics from the commune's People's Committee, the average yield per hectare is nearly 100 tons; with 70 hectares of chayote cultivation, the annual production reaches nearly 7,000 tons.

Traders are buying chayote squash directly from farmers in the fields. Photo: Viet Hung

During this time, the price of chayote has plummeted to only 500 VND/kg, affecting people's income. According to chayote growers, it takes more than 3 months to harvest the fruit, and the harvesting period lasts about 5 months. Farmers only make a profit if the purchase price reaches above 2,000 VND/kg; below 2,000 VND, or even at the current 500 VND/kg, they suffer losses.

Despite the price plummeting to 500 VND/kg, farmers continue to cultivate their crops, waiting for the price to rise. Photo: Viet Hung

Mr. Ho Ngoc Tang, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Lien commune (Hoang Mai town), said that at this time last year, the price had reached 4,000-5,000 VND/kg. But this year, the price has dropped, causing great concern among farmers. However, chayote plants have a long harvesting period of 5-6 months, and with good care, farmers can potentially recoup their investment and make a profit. Typically, prices increase at the beginning of the season and then drop sharply during the peak season. Around the second lunar month, when other vegetables are sold out, the price of chayote will start to rise again. At this time, farmers only need to care for the plants, water them, and fertilize them properly to ensure fruit development and harvesting.