Near Tet, green vegetables are in short supply, prices increase sharply

Farmers in Quynh Minh commune (Quynh Luu) harvest vegetables. Photo: Viet Hung

Quynh Luu has more than 1,000 hectares of specialized vegetable cultivation, of which the largest concentration is in coastal communes such as Quynh Minh, Quynh Luong and Quynh Bang with more than 700 hectares. Entering the winter crop this year, households continue to plant and diversify vegetables to supply the market, especially during Tet.

Ms. Ho Thi Minh in Quynh Luong commune said that her family grows 3 sao of vegetables of all kinds, from now until Tet will focus on harvesting 2 sao of cauliflower, and 1 sao of cabbage will be sold around 25 Tet. With the current selling price, people can harvest profitably, on average 1 sao of cabbage after deducting expenses earns 13 million VND.

Farmers in Quynh Luong commune (Quynh Luu) harvest vegetables with joy at good prices. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Nguyen Van Tue - Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Luong Commune said that recently, green vegetables have started to increase in price, people are excited to produce and harvest to sell to the market. However, compared to last year, the amount of vegetables harvested in the fields is not much, while the demand for consumption in Hue, Da Nang and the northern provinces is very large.

From now until Lunar New Year, people will continue to harvest. If we only supply to neighboring provinces, the demand will be met, but if we expand to distant provinces, there will be a possibility of shortage.

Limited supply has caused vegetable prices at markets in Anh Son district to increase. Photo: Thai Hien

This is also the common situation in many other localities in the province. In Anh Son district, the vegetable growing areas of Cam Son, Thach Son, and Phuc Son communes, although vegetables are priced well and are sold as soon as they are harvested, people are still unhappy because the vegetables have a poor harvest, are difficult to care for, and require high investment costs.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai, village 4, Cam Son commune, shared that her family has 4 sao of land specializing in growing vegetables. This winter crop, they mainly grow cabbage and cauliflower. This year, due to the more difficult weather, vegetable growers are also facing many difficulties. The current vegetable prices are high, but people do not have enough vegetables to sell.

At some markets in Vinh city, many types of green vegetables have increased in price by one and a half times, even three times compared to about two weeks ago.

Many types of green vegetables in retail markets in Vinh City have increased in price. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Specifically, chrysanthemums, which usually cost 2,000 VND/bunch, now cost 3,000 - 5,000 VND/bunch; cabbage costs 6,000 VND/kg to 8,000 - 10,000 VND/kg; cauliflower costs 3,000 - 5,000 VND/piece now costs 7,000 - 8,000 VND/piece (depending on the type); tubers and fruits such as kohlrabi, green eggplant, cucumber, tomato also generally cost 20 - 30% more... In particular, bitter melon, because it is the end of the season, has skyrocketed to 30,000 VND/kg; and the purchase price at the field is also quite high compared to previous days.

According to Mr. Nguyen Hai Huy - a trader specializing in purchasing vegetables at Vinh wholesale market: Since the floods in October and November, the price of green vegetables has continuously increased, and the price fluctuates more when approaching Tet. Purchasing is also difficult when vegetable growing areas do not have enough supply. In previous years, just ordering from local people is enough, but this year, we have to collect everywhere but still cannot supply enough for small traders.