Currently, many gardens in An Giang border are in the acacia mango harvest season. Mr. Nguyen Van Dung (Phu Thanh hamlet, Phu Huu commune, An Giang province) - said that last year at this time, acacia mangoes were priced from 10,000 - 12,000 VND/kg. With that price, after deducting expenses, growers still make a profit.
This year, traders only buy at about 6,000 VND/kg, sometimes even lower. Such a price is considered just enough for fertilizer and medicine costs," Mr. Dung lamented.
If households with available land can still "hold on" somewhat, farmers renting land to grow mangoes are facing great pressure on costs.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thang (resident in Phu Huu commune, An Giang province) - a farmer who rents nearly 10 acres of land to grow acacia mangoes - said that the land rent each year is about 20 - 25 million VND. Next, it is also necessary to spend on fertilizers, pesticides, care and harvesting.
The investment cost for the whole crop can be up to tens of millions of VND. With the current price of 6,000 VND/kg for mangoes, there is almost no profit, even a loss," Ms. Thang said.
According to Ms. Thang, many mango growing households renting land often have to borrow capital or advance materials for production. When agricultural product prices fall, the pressure to repay debts is even greater.
Reporters' records show that the output of acacia mangoes in the border area of An Giang still mainly depends on traders. When traders buy slowly or force prices down, farmers are often in a passive position. Farmers selling acacia mangoes are often sold in a "package purchase" form, meaning traders buy the whole garden at a common price, rarely classifying according to quality. This makes it difficult for growers to improve product value.
Mr. Tran Thanh Nghi - Chairman of Phu Huu Commune People's Committee - shared: "Phu Huu has a large mango growing area. The advantage of the border region is suitable soil, stable yield, but if you want mangoes to become a key commodity, you must follow the direction of standardization, cleanliness and a clear brand.
In the coming time, Phu Huu Commune People's Committee will implement the construction of the "Phu Huu Mango - An Giang border region" brand. When farmers implement technical procedures correctly, and products have clear traceability, businesses will boldly sign long-term consumption contracts. That is the path to help farmers in the border region escape poverty sustainably.
At the same time, the locality will continue to open technical training classes on flower processing, organic fertilization, fruit packaging and disease management, in order to create uniform quality mangoes. This is a prerequisite for building an agricultural product brand.
