Cashew prices at the beginning of the season increased, but farmers in Binh Phuoc and Dong Nai still suffered from unseasonal rain and pests.

High prices for cashew nuts at the beginning of the season have many farmers hoping for a bumper crop. However, in key growing areas such as Binh Phuoc and Dong Nai, unseasonal rains and rampant pests have left farmers struggling with the risk of crop failure.

Cashew prices increase but cashew productivity plummets

Since the beginning of March, Binh Phuoc has continued to experience unseasonal rains, right at the time when cashew trees are flowering and fruiting. The large temperature difference between day and night causes the plants to go into thermal shock, leading to the phenomenon of dry flowers and dry fruit.

In Bu Gia Map district alone, where there are more than 32,000 hectares of cashew trees, more than 1,600 hectares have been attacked by pests, ranging from mild to moderate levels.

Cashews with dry flowers and damaged fruits greatly affect productivity. Photo: Nguyen Vy

This situation has severely affected people's livelihoods, as more than 90% of local households live on agriculture, of which 70% depend on cashew trees.

"My cashew garden has been failing for the past three years. Previously, the yield was stable at more than 2 tons/ha, but recently it has only been around 700-800 kg/ha," said Mr. Tuan.

Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Trong Truong (Phu Nghia commune, Bu Gia Map district) said that he had sprayed pesticides three times, but his 2-hectare cashew garden was still densely infested with thrips and stink bugs. These insects sucked flowers and young fruits, causing serious damage.

High prices at the beginning of the season but reduced productivity and output have made many cashew farmers unhappy. Photo: Nguyen Vy

Currently, the price of raw cashews is high, from 35,000-37,000 VND/kg, in some places up to 37,700 VND/kg. This price is about 10,000 VND/kg higher than the same period last year. "However, due to the decrease in productivity, some gardens even have crop failures, many farmers are not happy," Mr. Truong shared.

Choose the right way to benefit from rising cashew prices

MSc. Phan Van Ha - Director of the Agricultural Service Center of Bu Gia Map district said that this year, there were many unseasonal rains in the district, which partly affected the flowering and fruiting stages of cashew trees.

However, new cashew varieties that flower early are less affected. On the contrary, old cashew orchards that flower late are severely affected.

Binh Phuoc's agricultural sector recommends farmers convert old cashew areas to high-yield grafted cashew varieties. Photo: Nguyen Vy

According to Mr. Ha, new cashew varieties such as AB29, AB05 and PN1 have higher productivity and better resistance than old, degraded cashew varieties. On average, one hectare of new grafted cashew, if properly cared for according to technical procedures, can yield 3-3.5 tons/ha.

Mr. Ha recommends that, if possible, farmers should convert old cashew gardens to new grafted varieties to improve productivity. At the same time, new varieties often flower earlier, which can limit the impact of increasingly adverse weather.

Due to the weather, this year’s cashew harvest in Dong Nai is later than usual. In Suoi Cat commune (Xuan Loc district), Ms. Truong Thi Anh Mai said that because there are few flowers and many young fruits falling off, the yield will certainly be low.

Farmers harvest cashews in Dong Nai. Photo: Nguyen Vy

Despite the sharp drop in output, with the current high selling price, income from cashew trees is still higher than previous years. Ms. Mai said that cashew prices are very high, around 35,000 VND/kg, while last year at the beginning of the season it was only 25,000-27,000 VND/kg.

Mr. Tran Van Hien - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Suoi Cat commune said that the total cashew area in the commune is about 700 hectares. Many households intercrop cashew with cocoa. Both crops support each other and both give good yields.

According to Mr. Hien, thanks to the high prices of cashew nuts and cocoa, people can increase their income on the same land area, thereby confidently investing in garden care in the coming time.

Source: https://danviet.vn/gia-dieu-dau-vu-tang-cao-nong-dan-binh-phuoc-dong-nai-van-ngam-ngui-vi-mua-trai-mua-va-sau-benh-20250330131915514.htm