Dragon fruit off-season in Ba Ria-Vung Tau increased in price due to lack of irrigation water causing output to decrease sharply

This year’s dry season, due to the impact of the El Nino phenomenon, localities in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province are facing scarcity of irrigation water. Many crops are depleted and yield is reduced; Among them, there is a dragon fruit tree. The sharp decrease in output has led to an increase in dragon fruit prices over the past 2 weeks.

At this time, the dragon fruit season in Xuyen Moc is at the end of the production season, the price of dragon fruit is increasing quite high, however, due to prolonged hot weather, dragon fruit output has decreased sharply. Therefore, despite the high price, dragon fruit growers do not benefit much. Currently, white-fleshed dragon fruit is being purchased by traders at about 15,000-18,000 VND/kg and red-flesh dragon fruit at 30,000-35,000 VND/kg (up from 10,000 – 13,000 VND/kg) compared to 2 weeks ago. This is a high price, helping farmers earn good profits, however, currently due to the impact of drought and water shortage, supply is scarce, farmers have little goods to sell. Mr. Tran Van Thieu’s family, in Hamlet 1, Bung Rieng commune, Xuyen Moc district, has 1 hectare of red-flesh dragon fruit – 1,000 pillars about to be harvested. Due to the production of the reverse crop – lanterns in the dry season, this year’s irrigation water source is in short supply, so the output has decreased significantly – only reaching 2 tons of fruit, equal to 50% compared to previous production batches.

“When there is adequate water, fertilization, and care, each pillar is estimated to yield about 30 kg of fruit, but due to lack of irrigation, the yield is very low, only 10-15kg,” Mr. Trieu shared. Similarly, the red-fleshed dragon fruit garden Mr. Tran Van Hien’s 2 hectares, also in Hamlet 1, Bung Rieng commune, have about 1 week left to harvest, but the yield is only 2 tons – instead of more than 7 tons like the off-season crop every year. Mr. Hien invested more than 50 million VND in this case. With the current selling price, after deducting costs, he only has a profit of more than 20 million VND – a reduction of 1/3 of the profit I was able to keep the beautiful branches, but now there is a lack of water so the output has decreased,” Mr. Hien shared.

The province currently has about 712 hectares of dragon fruit, concentrated mainly in Xuyen Moc district. Many dragon fruit areas in Bong Trang commune, Xuyen Moc district are also in a situation of reduced output due to the effects of prolonged heat and reduced water sources. To temporarily maintain dragon fruit trees, many gardeners have to spend money on using water pumps from Song Hoa Lake to store for irrigation, but this water source is also limited.

According to dragon fruit farmers, one of the reasons for the scarcity of supply is the complicated situation of drought and water shortage in the province from the beginning of the year until now, which has greatly affected the way farmers deal with it. light bulbs off-season; The rate of flowering and fruit setting is only 50 – 60%. Therefore, a decrease in dragon fruit output is inevitable. Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dai, Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Xuyen Moc district, said that in the face of drought, the district’s agricultural sector advises people not to Off-season production during the dry, hot season like today, especially in areas where water is scarce for production. Production in conditions of lack of irrigation water will greatly affect crop productivity, affect future plant growth, and easily lead to plant deterioration and death.

For short-term crops, farmers sow seeds according to the seasonal schedule and in accordance with the water supply capacity of each region; Use varieties adapted to drought and saltwater intrusion conditions; Applying scientific and technical advances in the field of cultivation and crop care in conditions of water shortage and drought such as: automatic irrigation, drip irrigation, mist spraying,… to save and use water effectively.

Up to now, the District Department of Agriculture has advised people about the tolerance to drought and saltwater intrusion of some common crops so that people know and get water for irrigation accordingly; Resolutely not let people produce in areas at risk of water shortage. Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Xuyen Moc district also recommended that farmers need to use water economically, avoid waste, and have appropriate irrigation plans. In particular, farmers should also pay attention to the recommendations of local authorities before the beginning of the season to plan and organize production appropriately, avoiding affecting crop productivity.

Hoang Nhi