Traders 'compete to buy' raw cassava from cassava factory in Con Cuong

(Baonghean.vn) - In recent days, in Luc Da commune (Con Cuong), traders have flocked to buy cassava in the raw material area invested by Thanh Chuong Cassava Starch Factory.

This year, farmers in Luc Da commune planted over 20 hectares of raw cassava. In fact, cassava has been planted here for many years and annually brings a significant source of income to the people. Currently, it is the peak of the cassava harvest season, and households mobilize maximum human resources to ensure timely harvest. However, for immediate profit, some households have sold cassava to traders at a price of 1,450 VND/kg.

Cassava is sold by people in Luc Da commune (Con Cuong) to traders at 1,450 VND/kg. Photo: Ba Hau

Vi Thi Mau's family in Yen Hoa village grows more than 8 sao of raw cassava. Ms. Mau said that because of the heavy rain this year, the soil is compacted, so the cassava tubers are not large, but in return, there are many tubers, relatively uniform in size. It is estimated that her family will harvest about 9 tons of cassava this crop. Before entering the 2017-2018 cassava planting season, she had advanced the factory 22.5 quintals of fertilizer and seeds and signed a commitment to sell the products to the factory. However, she is currently selling to outside traders. When asked why she sold cassava to traders, Ms. Mau said: "Because the family needed money to buy rice seeds, so she "sold"Stealing" to private traders at a higher price, the family also knows it's wrong but it's also because of the difficulties!".

Traders' trucks come to buy cassava in Yen Hoa village, Luc Da commune. Photo: Minh Hanh

To ensure the source of raw materials, right from the beginning of the season, agricultural staff of Thanh Chuong Cassava Starch Factory went to each household to investigate the area, calculate the output, and based on that, make an import plan for the people, ensuring that the cassava is unloaded and imported within the day, avoiding damage for both sides.

Ms. Luong Thi Hien - Vice Chairman of Luc Da Commune People's Committee said: "When the harvest season comes, as promised, people must sell their products to the factory and repay the initial investment debt. This method has been implemented for several years, and to motivate cassava growers, the factory and local authorities have committed to households to accept purchasing cassava at market prices. In case the market price of cassava decreases, they will still commit to keeping the price at 1,400 VND/kg. However, there has been a situation where some traders jumped into the commune's raw material area to purchase at 1,450 VND/kg at the gathering place by paying immediately in cash, and people saw a little profit and broke their trust.

People's cassava is gathered on the roadside waiting for traders to buy. Photo: Ba Hau

It is known that the investment cost for 1 hectare of cassava is 6 - 7 million VND excluding labor. After 10 - 12 months, the average yield reaches 18 - 20 tons/ha. With the cassava price of 1,400 VND/kg purchased at the raw material area as committed to the factory, people will earn from 27 - 30 million VND/ha.

Minh Hanh - Ba Hau