A Quiet Off-Season in Tien Giang

The off-season for durian in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang has begun, typically a time when merchants' trucks flock to orchards. However, this year, the main producing areas of Cai Be district and Cai Lay town have been unusually quiet.

Nguyen Van Dang, a 50-year-old farmer with a 1.2-hectare durian farm in Cai Be, noted that many farmers have turned to the off-season harvest, hoping for higher prices due to reduced supply. The highest grade of durians is currently fetching VND200,000 (US$7.9) per kilogram, double the usual price.

Weather Woes and Massive Losses

Farmers in Tien Giang, including Dang, started nurturing their trees in April-June for the off-season harvest. However, the weather took a turn for the worse as the trees began to blossom, causing all the flowers to fall off within two nights. Dang estimates his loss at around VND200 million, a situation he describes as the worst year for durian farmers.

Luong Van Han, another farmer in Cai Lay, reported that few orchards in his area have flowered. His 2,000-square-meter orchard, with over 30 durian trees, managed to harvest three tons of fruits last year, but this year he has only gotten a few hundred kilograms.

Preparing for the Main Season

Dang has decided to prepare his trees for the main season starting next April, while many others continue to treat theirs in the hope they will yield fruits by the start of next year. The Cai Be Department of Agriculture and Rural Development stated that in the district, 2,400 hectares of durian are harvested in the off-season, but this year only 30% have produced fruits.

Pham Minh Tung, a successful farmer in Cai Be, advises growers to allow their trees to grow healthy shoots before trying to get them to flower. He emphasizes the importance of closely monitoring the orchard during rainy days and treating the trees appropriately within a few hours if flowers start to drop.