In Vietnam, particularly in Bac Giang Province, a significant lychee production area, farmers are encountering financial difficulties due to a poor harvest, notwithstanding a 50% surge in fruit prices. Oanh, a local farmer, highlighted a drastic reduction in earnings from lychees compared to the previous year. Anh Huy noted that adverse weather ruined lychee blooms, plummeting production by over 90%. Similarly, Giang observed a 30% decline in yield across his 5 ha of lychee orchards, with increased prices failing to compensate for the lower production volume.
Contrastingly, other regions like Hung Yen, Hai Duong, and the Central Highlands reported a 50-60% production drop. Dong Thi Thu Huong, from Minh Tien agriculture cooperative in Hung Yen, mentioned a 20-30% revenue decrease despite higher lychee prices. The Department of Agriculture attributed the poor harvest to unstable weather conditions, including higher winter temperatures and prolonged rain. Despite the challenges, Nguyen Nhu Cuong from the Department of Crop Production suggested that the price hike might still enable farmers to realize profits. Exporters, facing low production and high prices, are adjusting their strategies, with Mai Xuan Thin of Red Dragon expressing concerns over supply for international markets including the U.S., Japan, Canada, and Australia. The situation presents a competitive challenge for Vietnamese lychees against those from other countries.
Source: e.vnexpress.net