Why passion fruit prices in Nghe An fall?

(Baonghean.vn) - Despite the large investment, the current selling price of passion fruit is too low: 12,000 VND/kg for grade 1 and 4,000 VND/kg for grade 2, making passion fruit growers not profitable if the price drop continues.

Passion fruit growers in Tri Le, Que Phong district (Nghe An) said that this year the factory is too "strict" in purchasing passion fruit, while the percentage of passion fruit infected with fungus is very high.

Traders come to the garden to buy beautiful fruits at 13,000 VND/kg, so many people choose to pick and sell them to traders. Photo: Quang An

Mr. Vi Van Cuong, a passion fruit grower in Yen Son village, Tri Le commune, said: This year, the percentage of lemons infected with fungus is high, so the number of lemons that reach grade 1 is very small, only about 5%. This year, passion fruit yields about 20 tons/ha. If the factory buys at the current price (12,000 VND/kg for grade 1 and 4,000 VND/kg for grade 2), lemon growers will earn about 90 million VND/ha, which is not profitable compared to the investment level.

Mr. Nguyen Ba Hien - Head of Que Phong Rural Development Board - Standing agency of Que Phong Passion Fruit Development Board said: To plant 1 hectare of passion fruit, people invest from 90 - 100 million VND including: seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, trellis... to harvest for 2 consecutive years, but to harvest for the second year, they have to invest about 50 million VND more in fertilizers and pesticides. Thus, if passion fruit keeps the average price of 9,000 VND/kg as in 2016, people will make a profit, but the current price of 4,000 VND/kg (type 2) is completely unprofitable.

In Tuong Duong district, the locality is developing passion fruit growing areas with high expectations for people to escape poverty and is in the same situation. Mr. Lo Kham Kha - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said: Tuong Duong currently has 3 hectares of passion fruit for harvest. Currently, Nafoods Passion Fruit Joint Stock Company buys from people at the price of 4,000 VND (type 2) and 12,000 VND (type 1).

Meanwhile, the retail market for passion fruit in Kim Son Market (Que Phong) and some localities in the province has a price of 20,000 VND/kg.

Mr. Pham Duy Thai - Deputy Director of Nafoods Passion Fruit Joint Stock Company, the unit directly supplying seeds, providing technical advice and purchasing passion fruit products in Tri Le, said: Every year, when expanding the raw material area as well as maintaining the area of ​​passion fruit trees, the company coordinates with Que Phong district to organize training as well as field workshops for passion fruit farmers on technical processes as well as cultivation and pest control.

However, compliance with technical requirements according to the care process as well as disease prevention and treatment is not well applied by farmers. Especially since mid-2016 until now, fungi and diseases have appeared simultaneously on passion fruit trees in Tri Le.

Mr. Vi Van Son, Yen Son village, Tri Le commune, along with harvesting fruit, is pruning unnecessary branches and leaves to limit pests and fungi on passion fruit trees. Photo: Xuan Hoang

The reason this year the Company is "strict" in purchasing passion fruit is because from mid-2016 until now, the situation of people choosing beautiful fruit to sell to traders to eat fresh in the market has become common.

Along with that, the awareness of some households is still low, they pick and collect rotten and damaged fruits in the garden to bring to the factory, affecting the quality of exported products. Therefore, from this year, we will carry out direct classification to minimize risks to the quality of exported products.

To provide enough seeds for the factory's raw material area, every year Nafoods Passion Fruit Joint Stock Company propagates seeds on-site. However, the company also needs to have solutions to stimulate passion fruit growers so that both sides can develop together. With a selling price of 35,000 VND/seed, to grow 1 hectare of passion fruit, people have to invest nearly 18 million VND in seeds. Photo: Xuan Hoang

In order for ethnic minorities in the disadvantaged Tri Le area to stick with passion fruit trees, it is necessary for the local government, especially Nafoods Passion Fruit Joint Stock Company, to ensure a stable output for the products. In addition, farmers also need to actively take care of passion fruit trees according to the correct technical process, ensuring product quality as required.

X.Hoang - Quang An