Dak Lak Sugar Factories Delay Harvesting, Leaving Farmers Anxious

Farmers in the eastern region of Dak Lak province are expressing growing concern as the sugarcane harvest season drags on, with many fields still awaiting collection by local sugar factories. Residents like Ms. Le Trieu Tinh from Son Hoa commune, who has a contract with KCP Vietnam Sugar Industry Co., Ltd., report that over two hectares of her sugarcane remain unharvested, long past the usual completion date of April 30. This delay not only poses a risk of crop loss due to potential fires in the dry season but also the danger of sugarcane sprouting, which affects sugar content.

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The longer the sugarcane is left in the field, the more worried the people are because of the high risk of fire during the dry season. In recent days, there have been thunderstorms, and the sugarcane will sprout, affecting the sugar content.

Similar anxieties are echoed by Mr. Vo Van Phat from Van Hoa commune, who notes a significant slowdown in harvesting progress this year. He points out that the cost of labor for cutting sugarcane has also increased. With nearly 8 hectares of his sugarcane under contract, only about 60% has been harvested, leaving him worried about spoilage and reduced yield from sugarcane left in the fields.

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The sugarcane harvesting progress this year is much slower, and the labor costs for cutting sugarcane are also higher than in previous years.

Local authorities, including Mr. Tran Minh Than, Chairman of Tay Son commune, acknowledge the delays in sugarcane purchasing by the factories. The factories, such as KCP and Van Phat, attribute the sluggish pace to a combination of factors. These include the lingering effects of natural disasters like floods from late last year, which damaged fields and transportation routes, and the current low market price of sugar, which has made processing operations less profitable. KCP Vietnam specifically mentioned that heavy rainfall led to widespread flooding, submerging thousands of hectares of sugarcane and causing significant damage, necessitating prioritization of certain affected areas. Additionally, the high sugar content in sugarcane processed earlier in the season forced factories to reduce their processing capacity to maintain quality, further contributing to the delays.

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The progress of sugarcane purchasing by the factories in the raw material areas is slow compared to previous years.