Farmers in Ha Tinh's largest onion farm worry about crop losses due to reduced output and low prices.

TPO - Unfavorable weather conditions have caused the output of green onions and shallots in Ha Tinh to be lower than previous years. Meanwhile, the price of onions has dropped by more than half due to competition from other sources, causing local people to worry about losing their crops in the days leading up to Lunar New Year.

January 13, 2025 | 09:30

TPO - Unfavorable weather conditions have caused the output of green onions and shallots in Ha Tinh to be lower than previous years. Meanwhile, the price of onions has dropped by more than half due to competition from other sources, causing local people to worry about losing their crops in the days leading up to Lunar New Year.

Onion farmers in Ha Tinh worry about losing the Tet crop. Video : Pham Truong.

Farmers in the largest onion farm in Ha Tinh are worried about crop losses due to reduced output and low selling prices. Photo 1

In the last days of the year, people in Thien Loc, Thuan Thien, Vuong Loc communes... in Can Loc district (Ha Tinh) are busy taking care of green onions and shallots to prepare for the Lunar New Year. This is the largest onion growing area in the province with hundreds of hectares.

Farmers in the largest onion farm in Ha Tinh are worried about crop losses due to reduced output and low prices. Photo 2

Local people said that this year the weather was not favorable so the onion yield was not high, about 4-5 quintals/sao.

Farmers in the largest onion farm in Ha Tinh are worried about crop losses due to reduced output and low selling prices. Photo 3

Farmers in the largest onion farm in Ha Tinh are worried about crop losses due to reduced output and low selling prices, photo 4

Farmers in the largest onion farm in Ha Tinh are worried about crop losses due to reduced output and low selling prices. Photo 5

Currently, although it is the peak harvest season, the price of green onions is from 7,000 - 12,000 VND/kg; while onions are only 35,000 - 40,000 VND/kg. Compared to this time last year, the price of green onions has doubled, while onions have increased sharply to 90,000 - 100,000 VND/kg near Tet.

Farmers in the largest onion farm in Ha Tinh are worried about crop losses due to reduced output and low prices. Photo 6

“It takes about 3 months from sowing to harvesting onions. This plant has high economic value and requires meticulous care, but compared to previous years, this year's yield is low and the price is too low,” said Ms. Oanh (residing in Thuan Thien commune).

Farmers in the largest onion farm in Ha Tinh are worried about crop losses due to reduced output and low selling prices. Photo 7

According to the people, onions are grown on rows running along the length of the field, each row is 1-1.5m wide, for easy harvesting and care. After about 2 months of sowing, green onions will be separated and planted in another location about 1 month before being sold. After each onion crop, farmers will intercrop peanuts and sweet potatoes to change the soil.

Farmers in the largest onion farm in Ha Tinh are worried about crop losses due to reduced output and low selling prices. Photo 8

The leader of Thuan Thien Commune People's Committee said that growing onions helps people have a good source of income besides rice. However, in recent years, due to competition in the market with different sources of goods, onion prices have decreased. In addition, growing onions requires regular care while labor is gradually decreasing, so people are no longer interested.

Farmers in the largest onion farm in Ha Tinh are worried about crop losses due to reduced output and low selling prices. Photo 9

In the fields of Thien Loc commune, many people are taking care of and harvesting shallots (bulb onions). Ms. Tran Thi Huong (Thien Loc commune) said that although growing shallots is hard and requires a lot of effort, her family's income is much better than growing rice. However, this year, each sao of shallots is estimated to only earn more than 10 million VND, while last year each sao brought in more than 15 million VND.

Farmers in the largest onion farm in Ha Tinh are worried about crop losses due to reduced output and low selling prices. Photo 10

“Onions are in the main harvest season, but buyers are picky, and prices are low due to competition with onions and scallions from the inner provinces. Even though the prices are low, we still have to gradually harvest and sell the remaining onions, leaving the rest for seeds,” said Ms. Huong. In the photo, farmers have to sell onions at low prices to recoup capital, care costs, and have time to intercrop peanuts.

Farmers in the largest onion farm in Ha Tinh are worried about crop losses due to reduced output and low prices, photo 11

According to local leaders, shallots are considered the main product in the economic development of the people of Thien Loc commune. According to statistics, at present, the whole commune has 70 hectares of onions and about 40 hectares of shallots. However, the unstable and sharp price drop makes growers worried.

Farmers in the largest onion farm in Ha Tinh are worried about crop losses due to reduced output and low prices, photo 12

Can Loc district is considered the largest onion granary of Ha Tinh, with a total planting area of about 200 hectares, concentrated in 3 communes: Thien Loc, Vuong Loc and Thuan Thien. However, in recent years, the onion planting area has gradually decreased due to a lack of production human resources.