Mango farmers face huge losses due to falling prices
According to Trung Chanh Sweet Mango Cooperatives, they have 10 members that plant mangoes on 12ha of land and harvest 120-130 tonnes of mangoes per year. Before the Tet Holiday, traders already visited and placed orders to buy mangoes at the prices of VND21,000 per kilo. However, as the prices dropped, five members said their orders have been cancelled.
Nguyen Van Liem, director of the co-operatives, said, "Because of low prices and saltwater intrusion, I have suffered a loss of nearly VND60m (USD2,600). I used to be able to earn VND90m from the mango garden. Many other members of the co-operatives also suffered losses."
Le Van Tam from Quang Trach Hamlet, Vinh Long Province, said traders already paid VND10m (USD432) in advance to buy 1.5ha of mangoes for VND21,500 per kilo. But no one came on the harvest day.
"I can harvest about 25 tonnes of mangoes so I'm worried when no one has come yet," Tam said.
According to the farmers in Chau Thanh District, Hau Giang Province, the prices of some sweet mangoes at the market dropped by VND10,000 (43US cents) per kilo to VND5,000-VND17,000.
Bui Van Thuc from Hau Giang Province said, "The prices dropped so deeply compared to the same period last year."
He went on to say that the prices dropped because as the farmers had bountiful harvests, the markets were hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Traders also said that the price drop was caused by supply surplus and export difficulties.
