Coconuts are in the harvest season but the prices go down and no one buys them. Meanwhile, coconut was attacked by pests and diseases, causing coconut growers in Ben Tre to fall into difficult circumstances.
Currently, coconut growers in Ben Tre province are in a very difficult period, suffering from “double damage” due to falling coconut prices hitting the bottom and pest attacks causing heavy losses. Coconut farmers are very concerned about the future of this tree because the income is too low.
For a long time, the prices of coconut in Ben Tre fell, especially dried coconut at just over 20,000 VND/12 pieces. even in many remote rural areas, the households are piled with dried coconut. Coconut in Ben Tre is being attacked by the pest.
The prices of dried coconut in Ben Tre province fell and the output is difficult. (Photo: Internet)
According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ben Tre province, so far, coconut gardens in 9/9 districts and cities have been attacked by blackhead pests. The whole province has more than 990 ha of coconut infected with blackhead pests. Compared to last week, the figure increases by 45 ha, much concentrated in Mo Cay Nam, Binh Dai, Chau Thanh districts and Ben Tre city.
In the past time, the growers and agricultural sector of Ben Tre province have implemented many solutions to prevent and combat this pest but the efficiency is not high. In particular, Ben Tre has released over 35 million bee larvae and blackhead larvae so far.
Many coconut gardens in Ben Tre province are infected with blackhead pests. (Photo: Internet)
By this time, Ben Tre province is still the locality with the largest coconut area in the country with more than 77,000 ha and an output of more than 650 million fruits per year. Export turnover of coconut products each year reached over 350 million USD, accounting for 30% of the total export turnover of the province./.