Vietnam farmers confront black plum harvest collapse and slim rice profits

In Hương Sơn commune of Hà Tĩnh province, the black plum (trám đen) harvest has plummeted to roughly 10% of the previous year's output after severe storms broke or killed about 100 trees. The crop, once a major source of income for local households, now leaves growers with dramatically reduced earnings; one farmer, Nguyễn Huy Hoàng, said his family’s profit fell from over 80 million VND last year to about 10 million VND this season.

Meanwhile, in Đồng Tháp province, rice farmers are harvesting the summer‑autumn crop on roughly 68 000 ha with yields around 6.5–7 t/ha. Grain prices remain near 6 800 VND per kilogram, but rising input costs—fuel, harvest labor, and material expenses—have squeezed profits to about 8 million VND per hectare. Farmer Trương Minh Tuấn noted that despite favorable weather, the higher costs make this season’s earnings “quite low.” Both regions face declining agricultural incomes, highlighting broader challenges for Vietnamese farmers.