Low prices cause farmers to dump pineapples

In recent years, farmers in several places in Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Son La, Dien Bien and Ha Giang provinces flocked to grow pineapples to export to China; however, they have had to dump pineapples because the price of pineapples dropped to VND3,000 per kilogram.

In Lao Cai Province, the area of pineapples was around 1,180 hectares at Muong Khuong, Bao Thang and Bat Xat districts and Lao Cao City with total production of up to 25,300 tons.

According to Mr.To Manh Tien, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Lao Cai Province, pineapples have been ready for harvest but the price of pineapples falls drastically because China has stopped buying pineapples.

Earlier, Chinese traders bought pineapples at high prices, giving farmers a profit of around VND100 million per hectare. As a result, farmers increased the pineapple growing area, exceeding the province’s agricultural plan.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Lao Cai Province, said that not only pineapples but bananas also have been facing excessive supply and dropping prices.

The provincial department asked the districts’ People Committee to recheck agricultural plans and reallocate agricultural land, maintaining only 650 hectares and 1,250 hectares of pineapple and banana growing area respectively. In addition, districts should attract firms to build processing plants and connect them with farmers to ensure consumption of pineapples and bananas in the area.