Weather dashes durian farmers’ hopes for off-season bonanza

In Tien Giang province, part of the Mekong Delta- one of Vietnam's two largest durian-growing areas- many durian farms are barren, some without any fruits at all, though it is now harvest time.

Of the 1,200 hectares of durian in My Loi A Commune, Cai Be District, 70% fruit in the off-season, but this year it has been only 30-40%, Tuoi Tre newspaper reported commune chairman Le Van Thom as saying.

The others lost part or lost of their crop to heavy rainfall, he added.

In Cai Be District, only around 30% of off-season durian farms yielded fruit this year, according to the local agriculture agency.

One farmer said he had invested VND400 million, but lost it all as his farm produced no fruits.

In Cai Lay District, where farmers have much experience in growing off-season durian, many farms are barren.

"I invested in 5,000 square meters of Vietnamese Ri 6 durian, but most trees produced no flowers," said local farmer Hoa.

Only the Thai durian variety she grew flowered, she added.

In Hau Giang Province, limited supply means durian farmers are getting high prices.

Nguyen Van Nhuan told Lao Dong newspaper that since durian trees bloomed late and produced low yields this year, prices have soared and might remain at high levels until next year.

Ri 6 durian is being sold at VND136,000 (US$5.36) per kilogram in the market, up 28% in two weeks.

The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association expects durian prices to remain in the Mekong Delta.

This is because Thailand's durian season has ended, leaving Vietnam the only option for Chinese buyers until the end of this year, it said.

Durian exports were worth $3 billion in the first 10 months, accounting for nearly half of all fruit and vegetable exports, according to the association.