Phu Thien district is considered the “capital” of sweet potatoes with more than 1,200 hectares and accounts for more than half of Gia Lai province’s sweet potato area. Nowadays, farmers in the fields of Phu Thien district are busy harvesting sweet potatoes. This year sweet potatoes are cheap, but the yield is only 2/3 of the previous harvest, so many farmers are not happy.

In the huge sweet potato field in Chu A Thai township of Phu Thien district, many farmers urgently harvest with many thoughts when the yield has declined quite sharply and is only about 15-17 tons/ha on average, less than much more than the previous harvest (about 25 tons/ha). However, the price of sweet potato has increased to 9,000-10,000 VND/kg this year, so people still have a profit.

As a pioneer in planting Japanese sweet potato varieties in the field of Chu A Thai township, Mr. Do Van Nam (Drok Village) currently has 6 hectares of sweet potatoes, which will be harvested in about half a month. Mr. Nam said this year’s yield is expected to be lower than last year, but the family’s sweet potato field is also around 20 tons/ha. The reason for this is that the potatoes are planted when it rains continuously, which means that the quality of the tubers deteriorates.

According to Mr. Nam, the price of sweet potatoes was sometimes around VND 11,000-12,000/kg in the post-Lunar New Year period, and now it is around VND 9,500-10,000/kg. At this price, a 1-ha family earns about VND 180-200 million on average, minus the cost and profit of about VND 80-90 million.

“Depending on when the price of sweet potatoes is different, for example when the harvest season is high, the price can drop sharply. According to my calculations, in half a month, when the family’s sweet potato field is harvested, the price may drop to 8,000 VND/kg. Thus, 1ha also earns 160 million dongs, minus the expenses, the family pocketed 50-60 million dongs,” he shared.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tran Van Nam (Ia Cha Wau Village, Chu A Thai Township) said his family had 6 Sao (1,000 m2) that had just been harvested, the production was about 10 tons, while the previous harvest also with the harvest was same area, this volume is about 22 tons. This year, the investment cost is high, and fortunately, the sweet potato prices are bought by traders at a high price (9,500 VND/kg), so the family still has a profit of 40-50 million VND.

Also in the field of the municipality of Ia Sol, many households go into the sweet potato harvest. Compared to Chu A Thai commune, the yield of sweet potatoes in Ia Sol commune is slightly lower. Mr. Phung Van Cuu (Thang Loi Village) said that the family has 6 Sao sweet potatoes, this year the weather is not favorable, so the yield is very small, currently only about 7 quintals / Sao, while every year from 2 to 2 .5 tons/rod.

“An investment pole is at least VND 8-9 million, even if the price goes up (about VND 9,000/kg), this year’s sweet potato harvest is still not profitable for the family. Every year, traders come to shop by area, but now they only buy sweet potatoes by kilograms,” said Mr. Cuu.

According to traders, an average of 1 kg of sweet potatoes is currently bought for 9,000 to 9,500 VND. If the potato patch is of good quality and beautiful design, traders are willing to buy it for VND 10,000.

After being bought for the people, yams are consumed by traders in the country, mainly in the northern provinces like Hanoi, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh and the central provinces. Also, according to traders, the quality of sweet potatoes is not good this year, so the export to China is very limited.

Mr. Phung Trung Toan, chairman of the People’s Committee of Chu A Thai Township (Phu Thien District), said the weather was not favorable this year and the cold snaps meant that the potato yield was not as expected. Right at the beginning of the harvest, people’s sweet potato fields only produce about 15 t/ha, 5-7 t/ha less than last year.

According to Mr. Toan, the price of sweet potatoes has increased this year and is currently around 9,000-9,500 VND/kg, while the previous harvest was only around 7,000-8,000 VND/kg. Just a few days ago, at the beginning of the season, traders came to shop for people at a price of VND 12,000-13,000/kg. Households that can sell potatoes for 12,000 dongs at the beginning of the harvest earn more than 200 million dongs per hectare, net of all costs, earning more than 100 million dongs. This profit is much higher than rice cultivation,” informed Toan.

Mr. Mai Ngoc Quy, deputy head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Phu Thien District, said this year’s sweet potato production was lower than last season at only about 15-17 tons/ha due to the unfavorable weather. However, the price of sweet potatoes this year is better than every year, so people have some comfort.

“On average, the investment cost for 1 ha of sweet potatoes is about VND 60 million, if a family leases land, they lose about VND 25-30 million more. Although this year’s yield is low, people still earn about 150 million VND/ha, minus expenses, the profit is about 60 million VND/ha,” said Mr. Quy.

In the past, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Phu Thien District has always updated the seasonal calendar to help people apply technical advances in production and improve the quality of sweet potatoes, according to Mr. Quy. However, agriculture is often changeable, depending on the weather, like this year it is too cold, potatoes are not productive, people are more or less damaged.