Nghe An: Pumpkin prices plummeted, farmers harvested in moderation

In the spring crop of this year, farmers in Anh Son district (Nghe An) planted a lot of pumpkins (also called squash). Harvest in moderation.
The spring crop of 2021 in the whole of Anh Son district, cultivated 337ha of pumpkin and zucchini, which concentrated mainly in communes along Lam river such as: Dinh Son 17ha, Cam Son 20ha, Tuong Son 40ha, Hoa Son 25ha, Phuc Son 30ha, Linh Son 20ha, Tho Son 40ha.

This time is in the season of pumpkin harvest, although it has a high yield, from 1.5 to 2 tons / ha, however, compared to the previous time, the current price of squash is very low. Previously, each kilogram of pumpkin people sold in the field was priced from 10,000-15,000 VND / kg depending on the quality but only 3,000-5,000 VND / kg.

Due to the low price of pumpkins, people only dare to harvest in moderation. Photo: Tien Dong

Ms. Nguyen Thi Giang’s house, Hoi Lam hamlet, Cam Son commune, this year planted more than 3 sao of pumpkin, although it did not take too much care, but like other spring vegetables and fruits, this year squash the price is very low, only 3,000 VND / kg. Sometimes even lower, traders try to force prices, so people only harvest small.

For each pumpkin pole, the cost of seed and fertilizer costs nearly 1 million VND, not to mention the care and hiring of the harvester. Currently, due to the low price of pumpkins, farmers face many difficulties. Photo: Tien Dong

Mr. Hoang Manh Ha, chief hamlet of Hoi Lam hamlet, Cam Son commune, said: The whole village of Hoi Lam has about 50 pumpkin growers, this is a highly productive pumpkin variety, the time from planting to harvest is 3. month. Mr. Ha’s family also produces 3 sao, the cost of seed and fertilizer for each pole is nearly 1 million VND, not including the care for 3 months and the cost of hiring the harvester. If the price of squash is stable, each pole also gives an income of nearly 10 million VND. However, recently, the low price of squash makes farmers very difficult.

Mr. Ha said that, due to the longer time for pumpkins to stay in the field than other crops, when the price of pumpkins is low, farmers can harvest them in moderation to wait for higher prices.

People have finished harvesting pumpkins and gathered along National Highway 7A. After that, traders will come to buy them. Photo: Tien Dong

Mr. Dang Dinh Luan – Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Anh Son district said: Usually at the beginning of each crop, the purchasing establishments still ask about signing offtake contracts with farmers, but due to low contract prices. Therefore, people do not agree but accept the market price.

Regarding the planning issue, Mr. Luan said that the district also now has a plan for vegetable growing areas on the land, and regularly provides technical guidance to farmers, thereby gradually improving production efficiency. bring higher income on the same area than before.