Mekong Delta farmers rush to grow Thai jackfruit

CAN THO – While the rice price continues to decline, Thai jackfruit has seen high prices over the last two years, leading multiple farmers in the Mekong Delta region to convert their paddy fields into Thai jackfruit farms.

A farmer in Cai Lay District, Tien Giang Province prepares land to grow jackfruit trees - PHOTO: TRUNG CHANH

Fresh IR 50404 rice is priced at VND4,300-VND4,500 per kilogram, allowing farmers to earn only VND30 million from each hectare of rice.

Meanwhile, a kilogram of Thai jackfruit is sold at VND60,000-VND65,000, and a hectare of jackfruit can help local farmers generate VND600 million to VND1.2 billion.

According to Dr. Luong Ngoc Trung Lap, former head of the market research department of the Southern Fruit Research Institute and head of the sales department of Tien Giang-based Cat Tuong Agricultural Processing and Production Co., Ltd, farmers have been growing jackfruit for the last four to five years.

The high jackfruit price has led local farmers, especially those in Hau Giang, Can Tho and Soc Trang, to shift to investing heavily in jackfruit farms, Lap added.

Compared with Vietnamese varieties, Thai jackfruit is of higher quality and is easy to grow. In addition, it can be stored for a longer period of time.

At present, 80% of Thai jackfruit is exported to China, Lap said, adding that the northern neighbor has high demand for fruits, including jackfruit.

However, Vietnam has yet to work out a comprehensive process to grow jackfruit.

Further, no consumption market research has been conducted to date, Lap noted.