Watermelon prices suddenly hit rock bottom, farmers suffer heavy losses

Melon prices are low but labor costs are high, averaging 35,000 VND/hour/person.

Ms. Bui Thi Thao in Hamlet 3, Thanh Hoa Commune, Bu Dop District rented 10 hectares of young rubber garden land from Phuoc Binh Farm, Phu Rieng Rubber Company Limited to grow watermelons. After more than 2 months of planting, the watermelons have produced many fruits, with an estimated yield of 25 tons/ha. She is happy because of the good harvest, but sad because the price of watermelons has dropped, the current price of watermelons is only 2,000 - 3,000 VND/kg depending on the type, half the price compared to 2 months ago and only about 1/3 compared to the same period last year.

Ms. Thao's family's watermelon garden has a good harvest but the price is too low.

Ms. Thao said that this year the cost of growing melons is very expensive, but when it comes to harvesting, the market price is too low. On average, 1 hectare of watermelon costs 60 million VND, but only earns 45 million VND. Ms. Thao estimates that this melon crop will lose about 150 million VND. "This year, Binh Phuoc does not have many melons, only about 300 hectares, this area is not significant compared to previous years. But I do not understand why the price of melons is so low at this time," Ms. Thao wondered.

Ms. Thao cut melon to introduce to customers

Every year, the price of watermelon before Tet is usually very high, about 8,000 VND/kg. But this year, the price of watermelon suddenly hit rock bottom, and traders are also buying sparingly because it is difficult to sell. Talking about the reason for the low price of watermelon, traders said that many provinces and cities are currently harvesting watermelon, while Chinese watermelon is also in its main season, so it has not imported this item, leading to many difficulties for growers.   Every year this melon is imported to China or Hanoi a lot, but this year they are not imported, goods from the North and China are flowing back into the South for consumption.

Melons are harvested and gathered in large quantities at the yard but the price is too cheap.

Mr. Phan Thanh Binh, Thuan Giao Ward, Thuan An City, Binh Duong Province, who regularly goes to Binh Phuoc to buy watermelons, said: "We know that the price is cheap and difficult to sell, but we still have to buy them for people. However, we only buy at a moderate level because if we buy too much, we will lose a lot."

Most of the watermelon growing area in the area is rented by people from other localities. Currently, the low price of watermelon has caused many farmers to face difficulties. Finding an outlet for watermelon to partly solve the deadlock for people is the solution that watermelon growers are waiting for.

Source: https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/4/166281/gia-dua-hau-bat-ngo-cham-day-nong-dan-lo-nang