Farmers growing dragon fruit in Mekong Delta now can sigh with relief as prices have risen considerably.

They are selling first-class red-flesh dragon fruit at VND23,000-27,000 per kilogram, and second-class at VND19,000-20,000. Meanwhile, white-flesh dragon fruit is selling at VND9,000-12,000.

In Cho Gao district of Tien Giang province, it’s now the high dragon fruit harvesting season. Merchants are coming directly to local orchards to collect dragon fruit at VND15,000 per kilogram of first-class and VND10,000 for second-class products. The prices are 3-4 times higher than in March and early April.

With price levels, dragon fruit farmers now can make a profit. As supply is short, exporters accept to pay high prices to collect dragon fruit for export.

In Phong Dien district in Can Tho, farmers are harvesting durian. Farmers are happy as they have a bountiful crop and can sell at high prices. ri6 durian is collected by merchants at VND40,000-50,000 per kilogram. With that price, farmers can make a profit of VND20,000 per kilogram.

Farmers in Ben Tre, Tien Giang and Vinh Long are also harvesting durian and selling at VND40,000-60,000 per kilogram.

According to gardeners, customs clearance at the border gates in the north has resumed, so exports to China have become better.

In Dau Tieng district in Binh Duong, farmers are happy as their mangosteen can sell well. Tran Van Cong, a farmer, said products are exported to China through official channels. As customs clearance has resumed, it’s easier to sell mangosteen at higher prices.

In 2021, the mangosteen price stayed at VND30,000-40,000 per kilogram, while it is VND50,000-60,000 now.

The deadlock at border gates in the north has ended and products have received customs clearance. A report of the management board of Dong Dang border gate economic zone showed that on April 20, there were 1,398 trucks stuck at border gates. The figure fell to 754 on May 5, including 477 fruit-carrying trucks.

The volume of farm exports, especially fruits, to China through the border gates of Lang Son province increases day after day, which shows positive signs of export resumption after the pandemic.

Le Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production, warned that the customs clearance at northern border gates hasresumed, but if the Covid-19 pandemic developments continue to be complicated, this will still affect fruit exports to China. Meanwhile, China is tightening control over quality of imports.

Q2 is the time for farmers to harvest many fruits. The output of southern provinces is estimated to reach 1.5 million tons, or VND137,000 tons higher than in Q1.

Tam An