Avocado growers in Nghia Dan suffer crop failure.
(Baonghean.vn) - Nghia Phu commune has the largest avocado growing area in Nghia Dan district, with 30 hectares. This year's harvest has seen a sharp decrease in avocado yield and production, causing concern among many avocado-growing families.
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| Many avocado trees suffered leaf burn due to the harsh weather. Photo: Duc Anh |
While Nghia Phu commune achieved high yields and production in 2017, with each hectare generating over 200 million VND in income, this year most avocado growers in the area have suffered losses.
The family of Mr. Tran Hung Dao in Phu Loc hamlet has the largest avocado plantation in Nghia Phu commune, with 1 hectare comprising over 200 avocado trees. Last season, the orchard yielded an average of about 60 kg of fruit per tree. However, this year, even the highest yield per tree only reached 1/10 of last year's.
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| Very few avocado trees are bearing fruit and ready for harvest. Photo: Duc Anh |
Looking at the sparse avocado fruits on the trees, Ms. Tran Thi Nga sadly said: "This year, the avocado trees are not productive. Some trees don't bear fruit at all, those that do bear fruit have very few, and many trees with unharvested fruit have lost their fruit; causing huge losses."
Nghia Phu is the locality with the largest avocado growing area in Nghia Dan district, with 30 hectares. Avocado trees are mostly intercropped with other fruit trees by the locals, with only a few families planting them in concentrated areas of 0.5 - 1 hectare. Currently, about 10 hectares of avocado trees in the area are already producing fruit.
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| Many avocado orchards are experiencing fruit drop. Photo: Duc Anh |
Last season, many avocado farmers in Nghia Phu earned a good income from avocados. However, this year, the local avocado yield and productivity have decreased significantly. Mr. Ho Huu Hoai, Vice Chairman of the Nghia Phu Commune People's Committee, said: Compared to the 2017 avocado season, this year's avocado yield and productivity have decreased by about 80%.
According to Mr. Ho Huu Hoai, the reason for the avocado crop failure is that heavy rains during flowering prevented pollination and fruit setting; and when the fruit began to ripen, a prolonged period of hot weather caused a significant number of fruits to fall off.
The Nghia Phu commune authorities also advised people not to cut down avocado trees or switch to other crops because of the crop failure, as this year's avocado crop failure was due to weather conditions and is not a cause for concern.
