Watermelon prices plummet, farmers face the risk of losses
These days, in Nam Trach commune, Quang Tri province, the atmosphere of watermelon harvest is taking place urgently throughout the fields. Fresh, green watermelon fields have reached harvest time, but many areas have not yet been harvested due to difficulty finding outlets. Many households are worried when their efforts and investment costs are at risk of not being compensated.
Leading us to the vast watermelon field, Mr. Hoang Van Hien, Nam Trach commune, could not hide his fatigue. To grow and care for this watermelon garden, he had to rent 2 hectares of land more than 10km from his house, set up tents to eat and sleep in the fields for two long months. Favorable weather helped watermelons grow well and have high yields, but the joy of a bumper crop quickly gave way to worries about output.
This year's watermelon is a bumper crop, with high output, so the supply is abundant. I have contacted many traders but have not yet found a consumption outlet. If this situation lasts, we will be forced to sell retail at very low prices" - Mr. Hoang Van Hien shared.
Currently, the price of watermelons in the field is only below 3,000 VND/kg, a price not enough to cover production costs. Many ripe watermelon fields are still in the fields, while hot weather increases the risk of damage.
Similarly, Mr. Pham Van Sau's family is also facing the risk of heavy losses. With 1.7 hectares of watermelon, the expected output is about 20 tons/ha, but the low selling price makes the total revenue not enough to cover expenses. Initial estimates, his family lost more than 50 million VND.
Not only the above two households, many watermelon growers in Nam Trach commune and other localities in Quang Tri province also fell into a similar situation when investment costs were high but output was unstable. Some households switched to retail to recover capital, but purchasing power was low, so the efficiency was insignificant.
Consumer connection but output is still precarious
Nam Trach commune is a large watermelon growing area with about 170 households, an area of nearly 300 ha. This year, the yield reached from 12 - 16 tons/ha thanks to favorable weather. However, the supply increased sharply while the output was limited, causing watermelon prices to plummet.
Faced with this situation, local mass organizations have intervened to support farmers in consuming products. The Youth Union and the Farmers' Association actively connect markets, promote on social networks and open direct sales points to help people reduce losses.
Mr. Bui Quang Dung, Secretary of the Youth Union of Dong Thanh village, Nam Trach commune, said: "Union members and youth are supporting the harvesting, transportation and sale of watermelons to people. At the same time, we connect through social networks to find outlets as quickly as possible.
However, these solutions are only temporary. In the long term, consumption still depends heavily on the market, while production is still spontaneous and lacks linkages with businesses.
Mr. Le Dinh San, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Nam Trach commune, said that the sharp drop in watermelon prices has greatly affected people's lives. In the immediate future, the locality is supporting consumption through online channels, and at the same time connecting with other localities to expand the market.
In the long term, the locality orients to strengthen production linkages according to the value chain, encourage people to participate in cooperatives, link production with market demand. At the same time, coordinate with businesses to find stable outlets, aiming to build a local watermelon brand.
Only when switching from spontaneous production to planned production, closely linked to market demand, can watermelon growers stabilize output and limit the situation of bumper crops but price drops.
