Orange growers in Vietnam, particularly in the regions of Vinh Long and Tra Vinh, are currently experiencing a drastic decline in orange prices, which has resulted in notable losses for the farmers. The cost to cultivate oranges on a hectare of land is reported to be around 120 million VND ($5,217), with the potential to yield 10 tons of fruit. Despite this, the selling price has dramatically fallen to a mere 1,000 - 2,000 VND/kg ($0.04 - $0.09/kg), leading to significant financial deficits for the growers.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Tra On district has indicated that the price for oranges is now fluctuating between 3,000 - 5,000 VND/kg ($0.13 - $0.22/kg) for small-scale household farms. Larger enterprises with poorly maintained orchards are facing even lower prices, ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 VND/kg ($0.04 - $0.09/kg) due to the inferior quality of their produce.
Amidst this downturn, other fruits like Soi Ha grapefruit, durian, and custard apples have also seen a sharp decrease in prices. For instance, grade 1 durians are now selling for 55,000 - 75,000 VND/kg ($2.39 - $3.26/kg), nearly half of last year's price. The durian custard apple, once a rare delicacy, has significantly dropped in price over the past two years, now selling for less than 100,000 VND/kg ($4.35/kg).
Similarly, the areca nut market in Nghe An has witnessed a dramatic price drop, from a record high of 90,000 VND/kg ($3.91/kg) to just 25,000 - 30,000 VND/kg ($1.09 - $1.30/kg). This sudden decline has resulted in substantial losses for local farmers.
Conversely, the cultivation of water caltrop in Dong Thap has shown to be more economically viable than traditional rice farming, with prices currently at 7,000 VND/kg ($0.30/kg). This shift in crop preference highlights the dynamic nature of agricultural market values.
Moreover, the price of red-fleshed jackfruit has surged to over 100,000 VND/kg ($4.35/kg), marking a significant increase from the previous month. This has encouraged many farmers in Ben Tre to transition their orchards to this more lucrative crop.
Lastly, the Soi Ha grapefruit, a renowned variety from Tuyen Quang, is being sold at an alarmingly low price of 2,000 VND/kg ($0.09/kg), underscoring the widespread impact of price fluctuations across various fruit markets in Vietnam.
Source: Vietnam.VN