Big C supermarket chain has increased the purchase of watermelons from Quang Ngai Province to help farmers there who are unable to sell their crop though prices of fruit have tumbled.

According to the local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the province has around 700ha under watermelon this year, and the yield is estimated at 24,000 tonnes.

Hundreds of hectares are ready for harvest, but there are no traders to buy the fruits. Many farmers in Binh Son, Son Tinh, Tra Bong, Duc Pho and Mo Duc districts are feeding their watermelon to cattle.

To help the farmers, Big C is buying more than 400 tonnes for its stores nation-wide at a price of VND4,800 per kilogramme.

The supermarket plans to sell the fruits at the same price to customers while also calling on them to join hands to support the Quang Ngai farmers.

All the watermelons the supermarket buys will have clear origins and meet food safety and hygiene standards. — VNS