After a long quiet while, rice market in Mekong Delta has started to regain its vibrancy. Many farmers have shown their pity for selling their unmilled rice at low prices right after harvested.

Prices have risen but farmers have no more to sell.
According to some experts, rice prices in Mekong Delta have risen again for export market has started gaining its warmth. In addition, the summer – fall temporary storage program has also made prices go up. However, not many farmers benefit from this. Mr. Tran Khiem Nhuong, living at Tan An hamlet, Tan An commune, Tan Hiep district, Kien Giang province, shared: “We harvested a month ago and sold rice unmilled. The rice was in a ripening riot and it was lasting rain so rice sprouted much. The prices were dirt cheap at 3,000 dong/kg and traders didn’t even want to buy.” This summer – fall season, Nhuong spent 30 million VND to rent rice land at 1,3 million VND/1000m2. With such low prices, Nhuong lost 1 million VND on each 1000 m2.

Many want to store up rice to wait for price rise but it was next to impossible. Mr. Tran Van Thong, living in Vinh Khanh commune, Chau Thanh district, Dong Thap province whined: “Every time of ripening riot, most of the dryer factories cannot meet our need. Moreover, loans for seed rice, fertilizer, drug, etc. must be paid off at season end so we had to sell our rice at any price then.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Can Tho city, shared that their farmers had finished harvesting their rice for summer – fall season and was focusing on fall – winter season. These days, rice prices in Can Tho have gone up by 500 – 600 dong/kg compared to the beginning of the season but, as a habit, most of the farmers have sold out their unmilled rice. She predicted that rice prices may continue to rise in the time to come for rice businesses have received many export contracts.

Late summer – fall rice has a stroke of fortune.
Mr. Luu Van Phuong, a rice trader who often buys rice from Binh Chanh commune, Chau Phu district, An Giang province, said IR 50404 rice which was harvested with harvesters was from 4,300 – 4,500 dong/kg; long grain rice such as OM 6976, OM 5451, and OM 4218 were 4,700 – 4,800 dong/kg, increasing by 400 – 500 dong/kg. Risen prices of unmilled rice has ramped rice prices up. If material rice of IR 50404 (used to produce 25% broken rice) was purchased by businesses in Đong Thap, An Giang, and Can Tho at 6,200 – 6,300 dong/kg, now at 6,500 – 6,600 dong/kg; material long grain rice has also risen by 500 dong/kg to 7,100 – 7,200 dong/kg.

According to Mr. Tran Quang Cui, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Kien Giang province, some districts in the province such as Tan Hiep and Giong Rieng had finished harvesting and was sowing for fall – winter season. However, only 40% of the province’s rice paddies of 300,000 ha has been harvested. Due to late sowing, rice in Chau Thanh, Giang Thanh, Hon Dat and so on has not been in their harvest season. That rice prices have these days risen again is a good sign to rice growers.
 

Mr. Pham Van Ben, Co May business owner in the industrial park of Sa Dec, Sa Dec town, Dong Thap province, said his business bought 200 tons of material rice each day. The business’ rice products are stably consumed domestically and abroad. Jasmine 85 is being demanded. Nevertheless, according to Ben, it should be considered before signing any more contracts as Jasmine 85 kept by farmers is now little.