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After oranges, it's the turn of Nam Roi grapefruit in Vinh Long to fall in price. — Vinh Long, many farmers intercrop other agricultural products or work for hire because the price of pomelos has dropped and productivity is low. Photo: Hoang Loc

The current price of Nam Roi grapefruit sold in bulk is from 4,500 - 8,000 VND/kg, a decrease of 2,000 - 3,000 VND/kg compared to 2022.

Mr. Nguyen Van Be (My Hoa commune, Binh Minh town, Vinh Long province) said that previously, he earned about 250 - 300 million VND per year from 3,000m2 of Nam Roi grapefruit, but from the beginning of 2023 until now, the income from grapefruit is only over 35 million VND.

According to Mr. Be, the reason for the decrease in income is because the grapefruit yield is not high and the selling price is too low. "I am old and cannot find a job in companies or factories, so I have to raise goats for breeding to have more income, instead of relying on the grapefruit grown at home," Mr. Be added.

Grapefruit farmer Nguyen Van Be chooses to raise goats for breeding to earn income, not relying on income from grapefruit. Photo: Hoang Loc

Also suffering from crop failure and low prices, Mr. Ngo Van Ga (My Hoa commune, Binh Minh town, Vinh Long province) said that grapefruit productivity is currently only about 1/3 compared to before.

According to Mr. Ga, the old grapefruit tree produces fruit with rough skin and light weight, so traders only buy in buckets. The income from his 4,000m2 of Nam Roi grapefruit is only enough to cover the cost of buying agricultural supplies.

“Since the beginning of 2023, I have to receive nearly 4 million VND from my son every month to have money to take care of life. Currently, I intercrop oranges, papaya,... in the grapefruit garden to have more income,” Mr. Ga added.

Also with more than 1 hectare of Nam Roi grapefruit in My Hoa commune, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam said that the low productivity and low selling price have caused his family to be short of money. “In this situation, I have to work as a worker selling auto parts in Can Tho city to earn an income, cover my family's living expenses and pay for agricultural supplies from the beginning of 2023 until now,” Mr. Lam added.

Currently, My Hoa Pomelo Cooperative, Binh Minh town, can only sell 2-3 tons per day, only 1/10 of 2022. Photo: Hoang Loc — Currently, My Hoa Pomelo Cooperative, Binh Minh town, can only sell 2-3 tons per day, only 1/10 compared to 2022. Photo: Hoang Loc

Mr. Truong Ngoc Trong - Director of the My Hoa Nam Roi Grapefruit Cooperative in Binh Minh town - said that the cooperative used to sell 25 - 30 tons of Nam Roi grapefruit per day. Currently, it only sells about 2 - 3 tons per day.

According to Mr. Trong, Nam Roi grapefruit is currently purchased in the form of horizontal buckets at a price of 4,500 - 8,000 VND/kg.

"The main consumption markets are Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and the North, but due to the large amount of cheap fruit imported from abroad, the use of grapefruit has also decreased significantly," Mr. Trong added.

Speaking with Lao Dong, Mr. Le Thanh Thuan - Head of the Economic Infrastructure Department of Binh Minh town - informed that the area of grapefruit cultivation in the whole town is about 1,400 hectares, with an output of over 34,100 tons in 2022. Grapefruit is grown mainly in My Hoa, Dong Thanh and Dong Thanh communes.

According to Mr. Thuan, the low price of grapefruit is partly due to reduced consumption, partly because many old grapefruit gardens have low productivity and unattractive appearance.

“Currently, Binh Minh town focuses on promoting farmers to implement many models of growing clean grapefruit. Applying science and technology to production to increase yield and fruit design to supply the market with high prices,” Mr. Thuan added.

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