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A couple with a giant squash. Photo TP |
Despite a bumper crop of squash, a fruit unique to Phu My district in central Binh Dinh province, farmers are still living in poverty.
Squash, which are grown in Chanh Trach 1 and Chanh Trach 2 villages in My Tho commune, typically weigh 50-70kg when ripe and produce one crop a year.
The fruit is sweet and the sap from the squash tree is said to be beneficial to one’s health.
However, the odd-shaped fruit is not popular with the public and is usually more of a curiosity at agricultural shows, Tran Xuan Hao, from the People’s Committee of My Tho commune’s said.
According to the committee, 200 out of 3,000 households in the commune exclusively earn a living from growing the fruit and half live in poverty.
"As many as 100 out of 320 households earn a monthly income of VND290,000 (US$16) per head per year. These households mostly earn their living by growing squash and other crops such as corn and tomatoes," Hao said.
"The price of the squash is unfixed, and usually ranges between VND1,200 to VND3,500 ($0.06-$0.2) per kilo," Hao said.
Squashes too big
"Some take squash to local markets, but few want to buy such huge fruits for their meals so farmers have to cut them into smaller pieces," Hao said, adding that squash usually only keep for two days.
Hao added that there were no figures available on annual production levels. However, he estimated that each household typically grows the fruit on one sao (360sq.m) of land and that annual production was about 140 tonnes.
Vo Cong Tanh, a farmer in Chanh Trach 1 village, said that he had managed to sell two of the three tonnes of squashes he’d grown for VND1,200 per kilo.
"After six months’ taking care of the crop, what I have now is a small sum, just VND1.2 million ($66) and one tonne unsold," Tanh said. "Luckily, I grew other crops, including onions and cabbages."
Nguyen Van Tanh, another farmer in the village had used all 500sq.m of his land to grow squash, but that he had three tonnes left unsold.
Tanh said that last year, a confectionery company from HCM City bought many of his squash for VND3,500 per kilo but that it had not approached him this year, despite promising to buy more squash to make jam. The company also pledged to give VND5 million ($277) for fertiliser, but did not honour the agreement.
"They haven’t come back yet and I’m trying to sell what I have," Tanh said.
Nguyen Ngoc Tuyen, vice chairman of the commune People’s Committee said he knew nothing about the deal because the "company didn’t work directly with the authorities".
Meanwhile, Ha Ngoc Tan, vice chairman of Phu My district People’s Committee, said the fruit was difficult to market.
"We’ve advertised the image of the fruit at many festivals but it didn’t work well," Tan said.
"We’ve approached the provincial department of agriculture and other authorities about trying to sell the fruit but haven’t got a reply," Tan said.
Pham Tan Phat, from the provincial department of agriculture and rural development’s cultivation office, said authorities had no plans in the pipeline to market the fruit.
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