Sweet potato prices increase sharply, farmers collect billions

Dak Lak province currently has about 10,000 hectares of sweet potatoes. This year's output is estimated at 280,000 - 300,000 tons. With the signing of the Protocol with China for this commodity to be exported to the country of billions of people, the price of sweet potatoes in Dak Lak has been higher than every year.

Many households have billions of income

With Japanese sweet potatoes, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Vinh (in Dak Nue commune, Lak district) said there has never been a year as exciting as this year because of the good harvest and price. Mr. Vinh's family grows 7 hectares of Japanese sweet potatoes with yellow flesh in the direction of VietGAP, all in the direction of biology, using high technology and micro-fertilizers for farming.

Especially this year, the weather is favorable. The yield per hectare is estimated at 25-30 tons. After deducting expenses, people earn VND 250-300 million/ha.

According to Mr. Vinh, the price of sweet potatoes fell last year, and people only earned VND 40 million/ha. Meanwhile, the production cost was VND 120 million/ha. Therefore, each potato farmer lost about VND 80 million/ha.

"This is the first time growing potatoes in more than 10 years that the price is so high. With the current selling price, the family earns nearly VND 2 billion in profit", Mr. Vinh was delighted.

Similarly, Mrs. Vu Thi Thuy (living in Dak Nue commune, Lak district) also has 5 hectares of sweet potatoes coming to harvest. The output is estimated at 120 tons.

According to Mrs. Thuy, there were losses and profits in previous years because the sweet potato market was unstable and the output was uncertain. This year, the price has increased significantly due to the low production of potatoes and the fact that this agricultural product is officially exported to China.

"Sweet potatoes are in good season and have a better price than last year. The output is also more stable. People are less hard-working. Sweet potatoes that are officially exported will have stable output and prices. Now with output, farmers will have a better time. People focus on following the process and expanding the area to increase their income", said Mrs. Thuy.

Mr. Phan Nam Phong (Dak Nue commune), with more than 10 years of growing sweet potatoes, said that the price of potatoes has never been as high as it is now. Therefore, besides growing potatoes, Mr. Phong collects potatoes from people in the area.

According to Mr. Phong, most sweet potato growers have experience and mastered farming techniques to control risks and diseases and ensure stable yields. Especially this year, the price of potatoes is the highest so far. The price in the garden is up to VND 14,000/kg, plus the yield, so this year, people grow potatoes with great success.

"In recent years, people have realized the economic efficiency of sweet potatoes. Many areas of crops such as corn and cassava that do not bring economic benefits have been gradually switched to growing potatoes. Not only that, but sweet potato is also a crop that actively contributes to the process of changing the crop structure and implementing the program of hunger eradication and poverty alleviation in ethnic minority areas", Mr. Phong informed.

Applying science and technology for sustainable farming

Mr. Cao Quang Phuong, Director of Thanh Tin Agricultural Cooperative, Dak Nue Commune, said the cooperative was established in 2019 with an area of 240 hectares. According to Mr. Phuong, the cooperative has an output of over 3,600 tons of tubers in this crop, with a purchasing price of nearly VND 14,000/kg, ensuring satisfactory profits for members.

"For a long time, the price of potatoes has depended on the market. People could profit more than VND 100 million/ha in previous years. However, after 2 years of Covid-19, there was no market for consumption, plus a lot of rain caused growers to suffer heavy losses.

And this year, the price of potatoes increased because the previous year's growers made a loss, so they did not continue to cultivate this year, leading to a lack of supply. Therefore, potatoes are not enough to export to other countries. In particular, the fact that sweet potatoes are officially exported to China also contributes to raising the price of potatoes", said Mr. Phuong.

The Director of Thanh Tin Cooperative added that, for the members to grow sweet potatoes to be sustainable, this unit has developed a planting area code for more than 130 hectares of Japanese sweet potatoes. When the cooperative links with enterprises to make planting area codes to export potatoes officially to China, they have signed an insurance contract. Accordingly, when people grow sweet potatoes, the lowest selling price for businesses is VND 8,000/kg. This gives people peace of mind in production.

"Currently, the cooperative is one of the pioneers in applying science and technology to farming. This helps farmers reduce spraying by 60% and 30% of drugs and fertilizers. Especially when using drones. Driving to spray pesticides, manure does not affect the environment.

In addition, the cooperative will invest in fertilizers and guide members on farming techniques. This helps sweet potatoes according to the standard process, increasing productivity," added The Director of Thanh Tin Cooperative.

In 2023, the whole province of Dak Lak has about 10,000 hectares of sweet potatoes, grown mainly in the districts of Lak, Cu M'gar, Krong Nang, Krong Buk, Krong Ana, Krong Bong, Ea H'leo, Buon Ho town, and the city. Buon Ma Thuot Street. The total output of the province is estimated at nearly 300,000 tons. In particular, the growing areas have been set up with a dossier for granting a planting area code with an output of about 50,000 tons.

This year, the weather is favorable for the harvest season, so the farmers here are excited because the sweet potatoes are well-seasoned and well-priced, with few pests and diseases, so the yield is high, estimated at 25-30 tons/ha. Farmers have harvested about 40% of the area up to this point.