Binh Phuoc (VNS/VNA) - Farmers in Binh Phuoc province, the country’slargest cashew producer, are facing unfavourable weather and the possibility ofa poor harvest during the current blooming season.

The southeastern provincenormally has warm weather now, which causes the trees to bloom and bear fruit,but cold weather since the end of December has affected the development of cashewfruit and flowers.

In addition, thesouthern region is expected to see heavy rains from the ongoing Typhoon Pabuk.

Dieu Keng, whosefour-hectare cashew orchard is now blooming in Bu Gia Map district’s Duc Hanh commune,said: “We are really worried... Weather changes will have an adverse impact onthe cashew flowers.”

If rain continues or thestorm affects the area, many of the flowers and young fruit on the cashew treeswill fall off the trees.

Keng is sprayingchemicals on his trees to protect flowers and prevent pests, which haveincreased in number because of prolonged rains. Fungi can also cause disease tothe trees.  

Hoang Van Thang, who hasthree hectares of cashew trees in Dong Xoai city’s Tien Thanh ward, said someof the fruit on his trees had dried and fallen.

“If the weathercontinues to be bad, farmers will face a poor harvest as we had in previousyears,” he said.

Luu Van Thuy, head ofthe Tien Thanh Ward Farmers’ Association, said unseasonable rains and prolongedcold winds could affect cashew flowers.

Cashew is one of the province’skey crops that have helped reduce poverty in the area.

The province has morethan 173,900ha of cashew trees, accounting for 32 percent of its perennialtrees.

About 80 percent of the province’scashew trees are planted with seeds, not with grafted seedlings, and a largenumber of them are old with low yields, according to the province’s Departmentof Agriculture and Rural Development.

The department hasencouraged farmers to replace the old trees with high-yield cashew varietiesand warned farmers to regularly inspect their cashew orchards to preventdisease outbreaks.

The province has fiveco-operatives that produce organic cashew nuts on a total area of 4,000ha in BuDang, Phu Rieng and Bu Gia Map districts and Dong Xoai town.

It has 226 enterprisesand 328 establishments that process cashew nuts for domestic consumption andexport. The province’s cashew nuts are known for their taste and quality.-VNS/VNA