Perennial crop area fluctuates with agricultural product prices

Perennial crops account for a large proportion of the crop structure (over 65%) in Binh Thuan and the area is increasing. Currently, perennial crops are the strength and preeminence in some southern localities of the province such as: Duc Linh, Tanh Linh, Ham Tan, Ham Thuan Nam...

In 2023, the weather conditions are favorable for the growth and development of perennial crops. Localities in the province focus on developing and caring for them, while converting the area of some ineffective trees to new planting of trees with high economic value, suitable for the conditions and soil of each locality. After China reopened trade from the end of 2022 until now, the selling prices and export markets of agricultural products of the province's main perennial crops have fluctuated compared to the previous year.

The province currently has a total area of perennial crops of 108,346.1 hectares, an increase of 0.3% compared to 2022 (an increase of 296.5 hectares). Of which: Area of perennial industrial crops is 67,042.8 hectares, down 1% (down 699.6 hectares); perennial fruit trees are 40,680.0 hectares, up 2.7% (up 1,057.3 hectares); other perennial crops are 623.3 hectares, down 8.9% (down 61.2 hectares).

The province's perennial crop area is rubber. Currently, rubber has an area of 45,278.8 hectares, an increase of 0.6% (an increase of 274.8 hectares) compared to 2022. The area increased mainly in the districts of Tanh Linh and Duc Linh, due to people converting ineffective cashew trees to rubber. In 2023, rubber will have an average yield of 15.6 quintals/ha; the harvested output will reach 67,950 tons, an increase of 5.2% (an increase of 3,372.3 tons). Currently, the demand for rubber imports from other countries, especially the Chinese market, is showing signs of recovery, and the selling price of rubber latex has increased slightly compared to the same period last year.

The second largest perennial crop in the province is dragon fruit, currently at 26,498.5 hectares, down 4.6% (down 1,289.2 hectares) compared to 2022. The area has decreased significantly in the following districts: Bac Binh (down 694 hectares); Ham Thuan Nam (down 252 hectares); La Gi (down 138 hectares); Ham Thuan Bac (down 122 hectares); Ham Tan (down 102 hectares). The decrease in area is due to the long-term decrease in selling prices, while labor and fertilizer costs are increasing, dragon fruit growers are losing money, leading to destruction and switching to other crops or abandoning the area. The sharpest decrease was in the last 6 months of 2022. In 2023, some areas were old and people continued to switch to growing other crops such as durian, mango, coconut, etc. In 2023, in general, dragon fruit prices were more stable than last year, and many dragon fruit gardens were heavily lit at the end of the year. The yield reached 216 quintals/ha, up 0.5% (up 1 quintal/ha), the output reached 570,560 tons, down 3.9% (down 23,445.2 tons) compared to the previous year, the output decreased mainly due to a decrease in area.

For cashew trees, the current area is 17,588.6 hectares, down 4% (down 740.4 hectares) compared to 2022, the area decreased the most in the districts: Duc Linh decreased by 634.3 hectares, due to some old cashew gardens in Dong Ha, Tra Tan, Tan Ha, Da Kai, Me Pu communes with low productivity, people switched to growing other fruit trees such as durian, mango...; Bac Binh district decreased by 140 hectares (decreased in Hoa Thang and Phan Ri Thanh communes), due to the area planted on degraded, aging, low-yielding sandy soil, people cut down and transferred the land; the area in the remaining districts did not change much. The yield reached 7.6 quintals/ha (up 0.1 quintals/ha); the output reached 12,900 tons, down 3.9% (down 521.8 tons).

Particularly for pepper, the current area is 871.1 hectares, down 15.3% (down 157.1 hectares) compared to 2022, the area decreased mainly in Duc Linh district (154.7 hectares). The yield reached 14.1 quintals/ha (down 0.1 quintals/ha); the output reached 1,230 tons, down 15.5% over the same period (down 225.9 tons). Due to unstable prices and frequent occurrence of pests and diseases, people are reluctant to invest. The pepper area in the province is mainly concentrated in Duc Linh, Tanh Linh, Ham Tan and Ham Thuan Bac districts, the remaining districts do not grow pepper due to unsuitable climate and soil.

In particular, durian trees currently have an area of 2,676.6 hectares, an increase of 41.6% over the same period last year (an increase of 786.6 hectares). Of which: Duc Linh district increased by 316 hectares; Ham Thuan Bac district increased by 308.8 hectares; Ham Thuan Nam district increased by 155.5 hectares; the increase was due to strong demand from the Chinese market, a sudden increase in output prices, and some areas with suitable climates, people converted some ineffective trees to grow durian. The estimated output reached 4,250 tons, an increase of 19% over the same period last year (an increase of 680 tons).

The remaining perennial crops have insignificant fluctuations in area. Over the years, the area of perennial crops in Binh Thuan has increased or decreased depending on the fluctuations in agricultural product prices.

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