Areca growers in Quang Ngai are happy as if they had “won the lottery” when areca prices reached a record high of VND80,000/kg. Many farmers are rushing to expand their areca growing areas, which poses many potential risks.
Quang Ngai is one of the localities with the largest areca growing area in the country, most concentrated in Son Tay district with an area of about 1,000 hectares. Normally, the price of areca fluctuates from 8,000 - 10,000 VND/kg, which is enough for areca growers to make a profit. Therefore, the current price of fresh areca leaves surprises many people. The story of the sudden increase in areca prices has become a topic of discussion among people...
For decades, areca nuts in Quang Ngai have been exported mainly to the Chinese market through unofficial channels, to make areca candy and medicinal herbs. However, prices are very unstable. This year, areca nut prices have been sky-high for more than 4 months.
According to many sources, in June 2024, some areca nut growing areas in China were affected by yellow leaf disease, causing a significant decrease in productivity. In addition, Typhoon Yagi severely damaged large areca nut growing areas in Southeast Asia, leading to a shortage of raw materials for making areca candy. Meanwhile, the Central and Central Highlands provinces in our country were not affected by the storm, so the areca nuts grew well, and traders competed to buy them for export to the Chinese market.
Son Tay District, Quang Ngai Province, is the mountainous district with the largest areca growing area in the province, with an area of about 1,000 hectares. This year, many billion-dollar areca gardens of the Ca Dong people have been crowded with traders coming to buy. However, there was a time when the price of areca hit rock bottom, causing areca growers to suffer. In 2014, for example, areca prices dropped dramatically, areca trees ripened all over the garden, but traders did not buy. Many farmers "bitterly" cut down the areca trees to switch to other crops.
On October 15, speaking with Lao Dong Newspaper reporter, Mr. Dinh Quang Ven - Deputy Secretary of Son Tay District Party Committee said that compared to other crops in Son Tay district, areca nut trees bring the most stable income at present. However, the locality will also have to make efforts to find a stable outlet for this product. At the same time, the locality also encourages people to intercrop some other crops under the areca canopy such as guava, lemongrass, pineapple... to avoid losing income when areca nut prices drop.
Areca nut prices have skyrocketed, many gardeners are taking advantage of every vacant land to grow areca nuts. In Nghia Hanh district alone, the areca nut area has increased by more than 60 hectares compared to the same period last year.
On October 15, sharing information with Lao Dong Newspaper reporters, Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the province said that the whole province has more than 2,000 hectares of areca. If the price is stable and there is an output, it will help areca growers have income, but "the market is very unpredictable. Areca prices are currently increasing, however, the agricultural sector does not encourage farmers to destroy other crops to massively grow areca, it will be very dangerous if areca prices in the coming years fall.
"Farmers who grow areca nuts should intercrop with other suitable crops, or plant them on fences... Diversifying crops will help farmers have a more stable source of income," Mr. Trung recommended.
