Harvest season: intense activity and rising prices
On the slopes of the commune, at the beginning of August there has been a peak of activity: : teams of workers coordinate the felling and transfer of logs to the collection points, taking advantage of especially favorable quotes.
Prices vary according to widely identified market categories, with differentiated ranges depending on the treatment and final destination of the wood: unpeeled, peeled and pole acacia.
- Black acacia (unpeeled): 1,0–1,5 million VND/ton.
- “White” Acacia (peeled): 1,2–1,3 million VND/ton.
- Post acacia (≥5 years): 1,3–1,5 million VND/ton.
According to local buyers, Prices remain firm and stable, which is leading many to bring forward the harvest to take advantage of the high price cycle without waiting for full maturity.
Early harvest and its effects
A significant part of the exploited surfaces not yet 5–7 years old and is cut off after 3–4 years due to cash flow needs: debt repayment, children's education, or new investmentsIn households with bank financing for planting, the incentive of a high price outweighs waiting for a full rotation.
This advance has clear consequences: logs of smaller diameter and lower quality, which forces factories and sawmills to look for raw materials in more dispersed areas, making them more expensive logistics costs and complicating supply planning.
Despite the dynamism, The total volume purchased by processors does not grow in the same proportion: part of the resource has already been exploited in previous campaigns and The new plantations have not yet reached their cutting cycle, generating tensions in supply.
A sustainability challenge for the entire province
The acacias occupy more than 100.000 hectares in the province, 41,46% of its forest area. Its expansion has allowed cover bare slopes, slow erosion and improve soils, in addition to becoming a pillar of income for thousands of families in mountainous areas.
However, price pressure encourages a vicious circle: planting, cutting young and replanting. This dynamic reduces productivity and quality, weakens the raw material base and can generate environmental impacts if not accompanied by responsible management practices. In this regard, it may be useful to consult how to maintain responsible practices in the management of the plantations.
Measures and opportunities for sustainable management
The agricultural sector promotes large timber forests, with rotations close to 10 years that improve the value of the trunk and provide environmental benefits (water retention, less erosion). To achieve this, we need affordable credit, sufficient space and bridging income that allow us to wait for maturity.
From the industry it is raised consolidate land and facilitate preferred capital so that producers can plan for the long term. With a stable foundation, factories can register and secure supply areas, increase quality and better distribute value throughout the chain.
Forestry authorities point out practical limits: the land is allocated to households, who decide when to plant and cut; in addition, the property very fragmented makes it difficult to scale continuous surfaces of raw material. Its scope of action goes through inform, advise and coordinate.
Recommended levers include: agroforestry models (intercrop with short-cycle crops or medicinal plants), technical and financial support, and the promotion of FSC certification to open higher value markets and strengthen the link with the exporting .
The evolution of the campaign shows that, with attractive prices and suitable tools, it is possible to balance immediate income with the future quality of the forest; the challenge is to align incentives, financing and planning so that the acacia grows to its best without rushing the chainsaw.