Rice prices improve, farmers still have difficulties

After a period of falling to a low level, in recent days, the prices of many types of rice in Can Tho City and neighboring provinces in the Mekong Delta have improved and increased again. However, the increase is small and the price of rice is much lower than the same period last year, so it is difficult for farmers to achieve high profits. In addition, farmers also face difficulties in harvesting due to rain and unfavorable weather conditions.

Traders buy rice from people in Truong Xuan commune, Can Tho city.

Compared to about a week ago, the price of many types of rice in communes and wards in Can Tho City and neighboring provinces has increased again by 100-200 VND/kg. On September 12, the price of fresh rice OM5451 for the summer-autumn and autumn-winter crop 2025 was purchased by traders and businesses at 5,100-5,600 VND/kg. Fresh rice OM18 and Dai Thom 8 were from 5,500-5,600 VND/kg, now up to 5,700-5,800 VND/kg...

Rice prices have improved thanks to increased purchasing activities, especially after the Prime Minister issued a telegram on strengthening solutions to promote production, export and stabilize the rice market. Ministries, sectors and localities have actively participated in promoting and encouraging units and enterprises to increase purchasing and temporarily storing rice...

Although the price of rice has recovered, it is still quite low compared to the same period last year, so farmers do not achieve the expected profit and face many difficulties in reinvesting in the new crop, especially when the price of fertilizer and many types of agricultural materials is very high.

Mr. Huynh Van Gioi in Truong Xuan commune, Can Tho city, said: “I have just harvested 10 hectares of 2025 autumn-winter rice with OM545 seed, yielding more than 600kg/hectare and selling price of only 5,200 VND/kg, 2,000 VND/kg lower than the same period last year. I only made a profit of about 1 million VND/hectare, so it is very difficult to invest in re-production. This autumn-winter crop, many rice farmers not only face difficulties due to low rice prices, but also high input costs and when harvesting rice, they encounter wind and rain, unfavorable weather, causing harvest costs to increase. Rice fields are collapsed and flooded, many farmers spend more money on pumping water and renting combine harvesters at prices up to 350,000-360,000 VND/hectare, an increase of about 50,000-60,000 VND/hectare”.

Mr. Vo Hoang Than in Dong Thuan commune, Can Tho city, expects: “There are still many areas of summer-autumn and autumn-winter rice in 2025 in Can Tho city and the Mekong Delta provinces that have not been harvested, so farmers are looking forward to the continued increase in rice prices, creating favorable conditions for farmers in harvesting and consuming rice. In the autumn-winter crop of 2025, I have 40 hectares of rice fields sown with OM18 seeds and ready to harvest. I have received a deposit from traders and set the price at 5,700 VND/kg. In addition, I also have 40 hectares of rice fields sown with OM5451 seeds and have set the selling price at 5,300 VND/kg. This price is much lower than the same period last year, so I also hope that my rice fields will have high yields to ensure profits.”

Many farmers want the authorities to strengthen solutions to stabilize rice prices at a level that is beneficial to farmers and harmonizes the interests of all parties involved. At the same time, promptly update and provide information on weather and market and support farmers in connecting with rice consuming units and businesses. Pay attention to solutions to reduce fertilizer prices and other input materials and support farmers in applying technical advances to reduce costs, improve production efficiency and increase income from rice.

According to Mr. Nguyen Danh Dung in Thanh Phu commune, Can Tho city, in the 2025 autumn-winter rice crop, he and many local households sold fresh OM5451 rice for only 5,000 VND/kg, a decrease of nearly 2,500 VND/kg compared to the same period last year. In recent days, rice prices have increased by 100-200 VND/kg, but most farmers have harvested and sold all their rice, so they have not benefited. Low rice prices and high input costs like the recent past, if the rice yield is high, farmers will make very little profit, but if the rice fails, there will be no profit, even losses. However, Mr. Dung really hopes that the rice price will improve in the future, and at the same time, the price of agricultural materials will be reduced to make it easier for farmers to produce the next rice crops.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Can Tho City, farmers in communes and wards in Can Tho City have sown 717,453 hectares of rice in 2025, exceeding the plan by 3.17%. Of which, the winter-spring rice crop is 327,460 hectares, the summer-autumn crop is 10,607 hectares, the summer-autumn crop is 284,320 hectares and the autumn-winter crop is more than 95,000 hectares. Up to now, 525,616 hectares have been harvested, with an estimated yield of 68.15 quintals/hectare, and an output of over 3.58 million tons, reaching 79.85% of the plan.

Article and photos: KHANH TRUNG

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/gia-lua-khoi-sac-nong-dan-van-kho-a190874.html