These days, in many fields in the Tran De and My Xuyen areas of the former Soc Trang province, now belonging to Can Tho City, farmers are entering the harvest of Winter-Spring rice. Although the rice is in season and the yield is quite good, the joy of rice farmers is not complete when the selling price is low and production costs are increasing.
Having just harvested 2 hectares of rice, Mr. Ly Xem, residing in Tai Van commune (Can Tho City) said that the average yield reached about 900 kg/cong (1,300 m2). Rice was consumed at an initial price of 7,000 VND/kg, but by the time of harvest, it had decreased to 6,700 VND/kg.
In fact, each worker earns about 6 million VND. After deducting expenses of more than 3 million VND, the profit is still about more than 2 million VND and working for 3 months. If you carefully calculate the cost plus labor, this price is considered a loss," Mr. Xem said.
According to Mr. Xem, the cost of this year's Winter-Spring crop increased sharply due to the appearance of many pests and diseases, forcing farmers to increase the amount of fertilizers and pesticides, thereby reducing profits.
Sharing the same worry, Mr. Ly Minh, a farmer in Tai Van commune (Can Tho City) said that with a cultivated area of 2.2 hectares, although the current rice price fluctuates around 6,300 - 6,700 VND/kg, the profit is not much.
The cost per cong is also 2 - 3 million VND, fertilizer and pesticide prices have all increased this year. This price is profitable, but very little if it is a little higher, it will be better," Mr. Ly Minh shared.
Mr. Lam Xia, a farmer cultivating 1.5 hectares of rice in Tran De commune (Can Tho city) said that 2 weeks ago he harvested about 7 cong of OM 18 rice purchased by traders at a price of about 6,000 VND/kg. With an average yield of about 650 kg/cong, the cost of fertilizers and pesticides has reached about 2.1 million VND/cong, so the production efficiency is very low.
According to Mr. Xia, this year's Winter-Spring crop encountered heavy rain at the time of rice flowering, causing some areas to rot, affecting yield. Faced with pressure of costs and low selling prices, after harvesting this crop, his family will leave the land vacant, waiting until the rainy season to continue sowing.
Not only are the prices low, but the unstable output also makes it difficult for many rice farmers. Mr. Khay, a farmer in Tai Van commune (Can Tho City), said that this area currently has more than 50 hectares of ST25 rice. His family directly cultivates about 10 hectares and collects rice to sell to people.
Now traders pay each person a different price, some people 7,200 VND/kg, some people 7,000 VND/kg, then 6,800, 6,700 VND/kg. Selling rice now is very hard, working is hard, but when it comes to selling, it's hundreds of hardships," Mr. Khay lamented.
Mr. Tran Van Sang, a ST rice farmer in Gia Hoa commune (Can Tho City) for many years, compared: "Last year, we sold it for 10,000 VND/kg, this year it is only about 7,500 VND/kg, which is a loss of 2,500 VND per kg. One work with a yield of 1 ton immediately loses 2.5 million VND. Farming is not easy, making a profit of 3 million VND/work".
Mr. Sang added that this year it rained a lot, prolonged flooding caused rice to eat poor fertilizer, forcing farmers to increase the amount of fertilizer from 50 kg/cong to 65 - 70 kg/cong. The price of rice seeds also increased by about 1,000 VND/kg. The price of fertilizer increased sharply, from 700,000 - 800,000 VND/bag to more than 1 million VND/bag, causing costs to increase significantly.
If the rice is good, it will have good yield, but if the price is good, it will not be. If the price drops, farmers will lose all profits," Mr. Sang expressed.
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