Nearly 14 hectares of papaya in Thai Hoa ripen and fall due to not being purchased.

According to the project contract on the supply of papaya seeds and product consumption between Tay Hieu Agricultural Cooperative (Thai Hoa Town) and Nafoods Passion Fruit Joint Stock Company (Nghe An), signed in November 2022, the company will purchase all papaya products for the cooperative. However, currently, 13.6 hectares of papaya trees of Tay Hieu Agricultural Cooperative have entered the harvest season, with an output of nearly 2,000 tons of fruit, most of which have ripened and rotted, falling yellow at the base, but the company has not purchased them. This has made people restless, at risk of losing over 7 billion VND.

The papaya garden of Mr. Nguyen The Duong, a member of Tay Hieu agricultural cooperative, is full of ripe papayas. Photo: Quang Huy

The family of Mr. Nguyen The Duong, in Phu Tan hamlet, Tay Hieu commune, is one of 16 members of Tay Hieu agricultural cooperative, Thai Hoa town, participating in the papaya planting project with the product purchase contract of Nafoods Passion Fruit Joint Stock Company.

Accordingly, on an area of 0.5 hectares, the family invested 175 million VND to improve the soil, install an automatic irrigation system, conduct fertilizer and buy about 1,000 Taiwanese papaya seedlings from the project to plant. Thanks to proper care and following technical procedures, the family's papaya trees grew and developed well. The estimated yield is about 80 tons of papaya fruit to import for the company.

Ripe papaya turns yellow, rots, ferments and gives off a foul smell that affects the environment. Photo: Quang Huy

However, up to now, most of the ripe papayas have fallen all over the ground but the company still has not come to buy them for the people.

Mr. Nguyen The Duong - Member of Tay Hieu Agricultural Cooperative sadly shared: "After nearly a year of care, all the family's capital invested in the garden, now seeing the scene of papaya fruit falling all over the ground and not being able to sell, it's so heartbreaking. Now we don't know how to live. We request the Cooperative and the company to have a solution to help us."

Not only Nguyen The Duong's family, but also 13.6 hectares of papaya trees of Tay Hieu Agricultural Cooperative members are currently facing the above adversity.

According to local people's calculations, on average, 1 hectare of papaya trees yields 140 - 150 tons. With a committed purchase price of 3,500 VND/kg, local people earn over 500 million VND/ha. However, in reality, 16 papaya growing households here are at risk of losing over 7 billion VND if there is no solution or compensation for damages from the company.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Linh - Member of Tay Hieu Agricultural Cooperative, absentmindedly looked at his family's papaya garden with regret. Photo: Quang Huy

Mr. Nguyen Hong Linh - Member of Tay Hieu Agricultural Cooperative (Thai Hoa town) said: When the products are ready to be harvested, everyone is happy and excited, but suddenly they are not purchased, like abandoning a child. Before, we stuck to the plots and fields for so long, now we don't want to go out because it's so heartbreaking to see.

The contract for the supply of papaya seedlings and the purchase of papaya products between Nafoods Passion Fruit Joint Stock Company and Tay Hieu Agricultural Cooperative signed on November 21, 2022 clearly stated that the company would supply papaya seedlings and purchase all papaya products. In July 2023, when the entire papaya area entered the first harvest, representatives of Tay Hieu Agricultural Cooperative contacted the company many times to purchase, but the company hesitated and made no purchase move. On July 19, 2023, the company announced the termination of the economic contract (regarding the supply of papaya seedlings and the purchase of papaya products), citing the negative impact on the export market of goods from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

More than 13 hectares of papaya trees of 16 members of Tay Hieu Agricultural Cooperative have ripened but the company has not yet purchased them according to the agreement in the contract. Photo: Quang Huy

Immediately after receiving the notice from the company, the representative of Tay Hieu Agricultural Cooperative had a direct meeting with the company at the office at 47 Nguyen Canh Hoan, Quan Bau ward, Vinh city and was informed by the company representative that they would propose a solution and respond to Tay Hieu Agricultural Cooperative on August 3, 2023. However, as of August 16, 2023, the company has not yet provided any solution.

Up to now, there have been 4-5 batches of ripe papayas that have fallen and rotted yellow at the base, giving off a foul smell, affecting the surrounding environment. Growers are very confused and frustrated.

Notice of termination of economic contract of Nafoods Passion Fruit Joint Stock Company.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung - Director of Tay Hieu Agricultural Cooperative, Thai Hoa town said : They did not buy the contract because of the impact of the war between Russia and Ukraine, while we signed when the war had already broken out. So why do they give this reason now, when it is time to harvest? It is clear that we have been abandoned. Our cooperative earnestly hopes and requests that the competent authorities support us with legal matters.

According to calculations, on average, people invest 340 million VND in 1 hectare of papaya. When it comes time to harvest, the company automatically terminates the contract, denying all responsibility. More than ever, members of Tay Hieu Agricultural Cooperative need a satisfactory answer from Nafoods Passion Fruit Joint Stock Company so that people can have a direction for cultivation.

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