Storm after storm, green vegetables continue to be scarce, prices increase sharply

Storm No. 5 had just passed, and before farmers could restore their vegetable crops, Storm No. 6 arrived. Many key vegetable growing areas in Nghe An continued to be flooded, crushed, and severely damaged. As a result, green vegetables became scarce in the local markets, and prices skyrocketed compared to before the storm.

Vegetables are scarce, prices are climbing at the market

According to reporters, vegetable growing areas in Nghe An were damaged by storms, causing a sharp decrease in market supply.

Observations at the vegetable selling areas of traditional markets these days show that the amount of vegetables has decreased significantly. Photo: Xuan Hoang

At markets in Vinh city (old) such as: Quan Lau, Hung Dung, Vinh market..., the price of green vegetables has increased compared to before the storm, especially leafy vegetables.

Previously, a bunch of water spinach cost only 7,000 VND, but now it has increased to 15,000 VND/bunch; Malabar spinach has increased from 10,000 VND to 20,000 VND/bunch; Malabar spinach has increased from 7,000 VND to 15,000 VND/bunch. Even sweet cabbage is sold for 40,000 VND/kg, double the price before.

Although the prices of tubers and fruits were less volatile, they also increased significantly: green squash was 18,000 - 20,000 VND/kg (up 5,000 VND), red pumpkin was 18,000 VND/small pumpkin (up 6,000 VND), carrots and potatoes were both at 25,000 VND/kg, up 5,000 VND/kg compared to before the storm.

According to Ms. Uong Thi Mau, owner of a vegetable stall at Thanh Vinh wholesale market, the main reason for the increase in vegetable prices is due to scarce supply and high transportation costs.

“Leafy vegetables are almost non-existent in the province because the growing areas are flooded. We have to import them from the southern provinces. In addition, the price of gasoline and oil has increased, so transportation costs have increased, pushing up the selling price. This situation is expected to last at least another 1 to 1.5 months, until the growing areas recover and short-term vegetables can be harvested again, then the price will cool down,” said Ms. Mau.

Meanwhile, at supermarkets in the area, vegetable prices fluctuated less. Thanks to proactive supply from greenhouses and net houses in many provinces and cities, vegetable and root output at supermarkets remained abundant, diverse and prices were stable.

Traders at the markets said that cabbage, chayote... are all imported from other places, so the prices are high. Photo: Xuan Hoang

For rural markets, in general, vegetable prices are not as high as those in wards in Vinh city (old), but compared to before the storm, they have also increased rapidly.

At the central market of Yen Thanh commune, Phu Dien market, Dien Chau commune and some other markets on the morning of August 30-31, it was shown that vegetables, tubers and fruits were sold at much higher prices than before the storm, specifically: lettuce from 15,000 VND/kg, increased to 25,000 VND/kg, tomatoes from 13,000 VND/kg, now increased to 25,000 VND/kg, cabbage from 7,000 VND/kg, increased to 13,000 VND/kg, green onions from 14,000 VND/kg, increased to 30,000 VND/kg...

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien, a vegetable seller at the central market of Yen Thanh commune, shared: “Vegetables from the province have been scarce for many days, causing all vegetables, tubers, and fruits to be imported from other places, so high prices are inevitable. Compared to before the storm, the prices of vegetables, tubers, and fruits have doubled. However, due to the reduced supply, the amount of vegetables sold at each market session is only half of what it was before.”

Consumers are also worried. Ms. Tran Thi Hanh, a resident of Yen Thanh commune, said: “In recent days, vegetable prices have skyrocketed. There is no other way but to reduce the amount of vegetables we eat every day.”

Since storm No. 5, vegetables have become increasingly scarce and expensive, causing consumers to worry. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Storm after storm, vegetable farm cannot be restored

Mr. Ho Dang Tam - Director of Quynh Bang General Agricultural Cooperative (Quynh Anh commune) said: "The locality has 700 hectares specializing in vegetable cultivation. We are mobilizing people to take advantage of areas that can still recover to gradually harvest, at the same time, encouraging replanting of short-term vegetables to soon have a supply for the market. However, the shortage of vegetables will certainly last for at least a few weeks."

Green onion fields in Quynh Anh commune were damaged after storm No. 5 before harvest time. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Tam added: Because Quynh Anh commune is the largest "vegetable granary" in the province, traders usually come to place orders, then transport them to wholesale markets for consumption. Now, due to the impact of storms and rains, local vegetable production is low, so traders have to transport vegetables from other places to supply the provincial market. However, some traders still stop by Quynh Anh commune to buy the remaining small amount of vegetables.

Some fields of green onions that were about to be harvested were also destroyed. This is the reason why the market was scarce after the storm. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Accordingly, traders buy vegetables in the field at high prices, specifically: Tomatoes 20,000 VND/kg, chayote 6,000 VND/kg, squash 9,500 VND/kg, green onions 18,000 VND/kg, mustard greens 6,000 VND/kg...

However, at present, the locality only has a few common vegetables: green onions, squash, pickled cabbage, herbs... but the quantity is small, due to the recent storm causing damage, now with storm No. 6, people have not been able to restore.

The cabbage patches were crushed and rotten, beyond recovery. Photo: Xuan Hoang,

According to experts, the increase in vegetable prices after the storm is inevitable. Extreme weather and continuous rain and storms have severely affected vegetable production. However, this is only a short-term fluctuation. When the water recedes and farmers resume production, especially short-term vegetables, the market will gradually stabilize again./.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/bao-chong-bao-rau-xanh-tiep-tuc-khan-hiem-tang-gia-manh-10305618.html