However, due to the increasing area not only in Bao Lam but also in other localities in and outside Lam Dong province, the supply exceeds the demand. Currently, the whole Bao Lam district has over 2,300 hectares of 034 avocado with an output of tens of thousands of tons.
The full harvest season only lasts about a month, fresh avocados cannot be preserved for long, while undeveloped post-harvest processing technology is the weakness that makes consuming avocado products difficult.
Mr. Ho Hai, Chairman of the Farmers’ Association of Loc Ngai commune, admitted that the locality also has policies and plans to grow crops for sustainable economic development, but most people follow the market.
A few years ago, the locality also predicted and warned that growing avocados would definitely affect the consumer market, but people left it open. Current reality shows that when supply exceeds demand, output is not guaranteed, leading to households cutting down avocado trees and pursuing other crops with higher value.
Facing the situation of avocado 034 losing its appeal, Mr. Nguyen Van Su (Loc Ngai commune) cut down part of the avocado tree in his family’s 1 hectare garden.
According to his calculation, with coffee trees priced at 100,000 VND/kg higher than now, it would only take him 3 years to switch to growing coffee and he would quickly recover his capital.
In the coming years, if the coffee price drops to 30,000-40,000 VND/kg, the profit will still be higher than the current 10,000 VND/kg of butter.
According to an agricultural extension officer in Loc An commune, in previous years, the area of 034 avocado trees in the entire commune reached about 200 hectares.
Currently, the entire Loc An commune has only about 140 hectares left; of which, the pure planting area is about 20 hectares. The reason for the decrease in area is due to the fall in avocado prices, many households in the area have cut down avocado trees to plant other trees during the rainy season, which is favorable for planting new trees.
Lam Dong province currently has over 8,000 hectares of avocados of all kinds, with an output of about 80,000 tons/year. Of which, the 034 avocado area accounts for the largest proportion at 81.3% (6,557 hectares), mainly concentrated in Bao Lam, Di Linh, Lam Ha, Duc Trong districts and Bao Loc city.
Statistics show that in Lam Dong province, there are currently only 4 large-scale avocado purchasing, processing and processing units for domestic consumption and export. In addition, there are 80 avocado purchasing facilities with a capacity of about 13,000 tons/year, supplying the majority of the domestic market, a small part is exported through unofficial channels.
The remaining avocado output is consumed through small-scale traders, gardeners selling to traditional customers and on social platforms, with unstable income.
Faced with the above situation, the agricultural sector of Lam Dong province has promoted and sought more markets to consume 034 avocados both domestically and internationally.
Specifically, in early June 2024, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Lam Dong province organized survey teams to work with the agricultural sector of Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho city, MM Mega Market Vietnam supermarket system…
Thereby, it aims to find and connect a stable consumption market for avocado products in particular and other agricultural products of Lam Dong province./.