The price of cantaloupe is low, people are worried.
Nga Thanh commune is considered the “capital” of cantaloupe in Nga Son district thanks to the outstanding economic efficiency of this crop. From more than 3,000m2 in 2016, the area of cantaloupe grown in greenhouses in the whole commune has now exceeded 10ha.
In previous years, melons were sold for 25,000 - 30,000 VND/kg, bringing in profits of up to 60 - 70 million VND/1,000m2/crop. Many households did not even let their land fallow, cultivating 4 crops/year, earning hundreds of millions of VND per year.
Many fields of yellow melons are in harvest time but there are no traders to buy them.
However, the price of melons in 2025 dropped to a record low, only 13,000 - 14,000 VND/kg for grade 1, less than half of the same period last year. In particular, grade 2 and grade 3 melons were sold for only 5,000 - 8,000 VND/kg, while investment costs did not decrease.
Unfavorable weather; poor soil quality reduces the quality of melons.
Ms. Mai Thi Phuong, in Bac Trung village, Nga Thanh commune, one of the households that has been growing cantaloupe since the early days, shared: “The price of cantaloupe this year is too low, and there are no traders. Every year, they usually come 15-20 days before harvest to place orders, but this year, people have to bring their own products to the retail market.”
According to Ms. Phuong, the quality of melons this year is not consistent, the rate of grade 1 melons is low, making consumption even more difficult. Meanwhile, the cost of fertilizers, seeds, and labor has increased, leaving many households almost "empty-handed" after the main crop.
Instead of traders coming to the fields to buy like previous years, people have to sell retail to the market themselves.
Sharing the same sentiment, Mr. Mai Van Hao, one of the pioneers in growing cantaloupe since 2018 with an area of 2,000m2, said: Previously, with high productivity, the price of cantaloupe reached 25 - 30 thousand VND/kg, each crop, the family earned from 70 to 100 million VND/1,000m2. But this year, with the current price of cantaloupe, it is not enough to cover the investment cost.
"Usually, after the harvest, we plant the new crop immediately, but this year, the price is so low that everyone is hesitant and afraid of losing more," Mr. Hao worried.
It is known that the reason for the "plummeting" price of melons and the difficulty in selling them is partly due to the oversupply in the market. This year, the fruit crop was good, many localities expanded the area of yellow melons, so the consumption decreased...
In addition, the poor soil condition for long-term farmers; combined with harsh weather, with heat waves above 36 degrees Celsius, causes the quality of cantaloupe to decrease...
Faced with the sharp drop in cantaloupe prices, many households are hesitant about planting a new crop. According to preliminary statistics, about 30% of Nga Thanh commune’s area is in a state of “hanging gardens”. Some other households have proactively changed their structure to growing flowers, grapes, etc.
It is known that cantaloupe is one of the main crops of Nga Son district in recent years, with the total area of the district being about 34 hectares, concentrated in some communes such as Nga Thanh, Nga Phuong, Nga Giap...
Faced with low melon prices, Nga Son district recommends that people consider switching to suitable crops, especially for long-term cultivation areas, which need to rest and rehabilitate. At the same time, households need to have output links with businesses and stable purchasing cooperatives before investing in expanding the area... to avoid being completely dependent on traders and the free market.
Dinh Giang
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/gia-dua-vang-thap-ky-luc-nguoi-dan-treo-vuon-253198.htm
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