Compared to other areas in the province, farmers in Bao Lam district access to macadamia trees quite late. Although the implementation of planting macadamia is under contracts and there is the investors’ support in terms of seeds, fertilizers and techniques, after more than 4 years of planting, many farmers are still concerned about the market of this plant.
A macadamia field bears green nuts for the first time of the household of Mr. Binh (Hamlet 5, Loc Nam Commune)
Refusing the given commitment?
In 2009 and 2010, through Duc Anh Trading and Services Co., Ltd., this is the first time farmers in Loc Nam and Loc Thanh communes (Bao Lam district) had access to macadamia trees and started intercropping this tree in their coffee fields. The area of macadamia intercropped has now reached more than 120ha. In which, Loc Thanh planted 80ha and Loc Nam planted 42.7ha. Mr. Dao The Vinh – Chairman of Loc Thanh Commune’s Farmer Association, said: “There are 60 households participating in the model in our commune. Up to now, the tree has grown and developed very well, initially showing that it is very suitable to the soil and climate of the region. Currently, many fields bear green nuts for the first time.” According to Mr. Vinh, farmers in Loc Thanh are very excited about this plant because of the commitment of Duc Anh Company to consume its product, many households have bravely invested. In 2009, the company provided 45,000 macadamia seedlings, with the price of 65,000 dong/seedling, the company subsidized seeds in the form of selling to farmers with 50% on credit. This debt will be paid to the Company in the harvest season. Such binding gives farmers more confident when farming.
However, Mr. Dao Duy Phi – Chairman of the Farmer Association of Loc Nam Commune, said: “Nearly 2 years After the company had organized training and provided seedlings to farmers, there was no “shadow” of the company returning for technical support as promised. Farmers only rely on the instruction manual on how to grow this plant provided by the company, and then grow and take care of it themselves.Only until mid-2014, the company returned to organize seminars, visit farmers’ fields and ask for further investments!”. Before the company came back, many farmers had been confused and worried about the “fate” of this plant, so many of them were not entirely enthusiastic about macadamia any more, only taking care of coffee but almost forgetting the presence of this plant. Although not being cared for and irrigated, macadamia (which is an easy-to-grow and easy-care plant) still lives and grows, increasing in height “rapidly”. Mr. Luu Van Tang – Head of the Farmer Union of Hamlet 5 (Loc Nam), said: “After only 3 years of planting, the tree is taller than the roof. If the height is not timely “reduced” by pruning the top to develop branches, it may cover the light and limit the ability of coffee to photosynthesize. Mr. Vo Van Thien (Hamlet 5, Loc Thanh), had to cut the stumps of macadamia trees up to 5 meters high to take care of them from the beginning. Mr. Thien said: “I only grew it, only when I watched the press reporting on how to take care of macadamia, I knew that I had to cut the tops during the basic development phase, otherwise the tree would be too high!”
Currently, many macadamia fields of farmers in Loc Thanh and Loc Nam bear green nuts for the first time, tens of kilograms or 3-4 kilograms at least. Mr. Ngo Van Binh (Hamlet 5, Loc Nam) who grew 165 macadamia plants in the area of 3 coffee hectares which are now bearing green nuts for the first time, said: “My field has produced green nuts for the first time, but the company has not yet asked for purchasing as promised”. However, because the low volume of first nuts, farmers only use it to eat, still not “worry” about finding the market. Through communicating, Mr. Luu Van Tang and Mr. Ngo Van Binh expressed their concern about the cost of the product. According to Mr. Tang, the price of one kilogram of green macadamia nuts is currently being sold by farmers in many neighboring areas with prices ranging from 180 to 220 thousand VND/kg. Duc Anh Company, in the contracts, committed to purchase at the market price, but the current world market price is only 2.5 – 3 USD/kg, so many farmers do not know which price their products will be purchased by the Company.
Commitment to purchase products as the market price
We discussed this issue with Ms. Phan Thi Lam – Project Manager of Macadamia in provinces in the Central and Central Highlands (Duc Anh Co., Ltd.), she said: “The company has now purchased over 3 tons of the first macadamia nuts from Di Linh farmers at the price of 100,000 VND/kg of raw material”. This price, according to Ms. Lam, is being traded on the world market. If only selling at a price of 20 – 25,000 VND/kg of raw materials, farmers have also achieved a revenue of over 380 million VND/ha.
Explaining the price of 180 – 220 thousand VND/kg of macadamia, which is currently being sold by farmers in the market, Ms. Lam said: “It is the selling price of seeds, not the purchase price of the product. Currently, because macadamia is a favorite crop of farmers in the Central Highlands, many farmers harvest their macadamia nuts and then propagate or sell macadamia nuts at this price! Discussing the product purchasing process, Ms. Lam said: “In each commune, the Company will arrange 1 collaborator who has the conditions to build a nursery is selected by the Company to transfer the technique of grafting macadamia. This collaborator will act as an intermediary to provide the seedling sources and purchase products between the Company and farmers.
Lam committed: “We do long-term business with farmers, so we are very honorable.” Currently, Duc Anh Company has signed a contract with farmers to grow more than 500ha (1,000ha as planned). Among these, Di Linh (300ha) and Bao Lam (120ha) are localities with a large area of macadamia. In 2015, with the support of the Government, the Company will expand 200ha in Bao Lam (Loc Thanh: 100ha, Loc Nam: 100ha) and will also replicate in other districts. “In order to prepare for a closed investment process, from investing in raw material area to processing, the Company is currently applying for building a Macadamia nut processing factory, located in Tan Chau Industrial Park (Di Linh). Products after processing, according to the contracts with the company, will be exported to Australia, the US and European countries “- Ms. Lam said.
According to Lam Dong Newspaper Oline
