After more than four months of cultivation, growers have entered the peak harvest season. Favourable weather and limited pest damage have resulted in strong yields, with average output reaching 500-600 kilogrammes per sao (360 square metres).
Despite the abundant harvest, prices have failed to meet expectations.
Traders are currently buying fresh garlic at VND 30,000-35,000 per kilogramme, well below the roughly VND 50,000 per kilogramme needed for farmers to break even amid rising input costs.
Production costs are estimated at around VND 20 million per sao (360 square metres), including seeds, fertiliser, labour and soil preparation.
Some farmers have chosen to dry and store their garlic in the hope of selling later at higher prices. “Yields are good this year, but prices are too low, so many of us are holding back,” said Dang Hanh, a farmer in Tay An Hai Village.
Local authorities said farmers had cultivated about 314 hectares for the 2025-2026 winter-spring crop, with more than half already harvested and average yields estimated at around 8 tonnes per hectare.
Despite the strong output, weak market prices have made growers reluctant to sell. Authorities in Ly Son are seeking ways to stabilise consumption, including encouraging businesses to join supply chains and enhance the value of the island’s signature garlic.
