Prolonged heat, Nghe An green vegetable market is in short supply, prices are rising

Currently, vegetable prices at traditional markets have increased by 20-30% compared to the same period last year. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Through a survey at some traditional markets, the price of green vegetables at this time increased by 20-25% compared to previous months, and increased by 30% compared to the same period last year.

Specifically: Water spinach is 7,000 VND/bunch, water spinach is 5,000 VND/bunch (increased by 2,000 VND/bunch); squash is priced at 20,000 VND - 30,000 VND/kg, snow peas are priced at 25,000 VND - 30,000 VND/kg, increased by 10,000 VND/kg; potatoes and carrots are 15,000 VND/kg, increased by 4,000 VND/kg; eggplant is 18,000 VND/kg, increased by 8,000 VND; tomato prices have nearly doubled to 20,000 VND/kg...

In particular, green onions have doubled in price compared to previous years, currently at 20,000 VND/kg (at the field), "cooling" vegetables such as squash, passionflower, chives, jute... have doubled in price, even tripled compared to before.

Mr. Ho Dien Vy - Director of the Agricultural Salt Service Cooperative of Quynh Minh Commune (Quynh Luu) said: "At this time, the whole commune has 160 hectares of various vegetables, mainly green onions (80% of the area), the rest are mustard greens and root vegetables. The prolonged heat makes care extremely difficult, the vegetable plants grow slowly and productivity decreases.

To ensure soil moisture and help vegetables grow, farmers have to water 4-5 times a day. Each month, 1 hectare of vegetables costs about 2.2 million VND in electricity. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Previously, each day only needed to be watered twice in the early morning and late afternoon, but now the watering time is maintained 5 times/day to ensure enough moisture for the vegetable plants. Meanwhile, the price of electricity has increased, each hectare of vegetables costs about 2.3 million VND/month. High input costs have a significant impact on vegetable prices. Compared to previous years, this year, vegetable prices have increased by 30%, vegetable output is not enough to supply the market, so even though productivity has decreased, vegetable growers still make a profit.

Mr. Ho Dien Vy - Director of the Agricultural Salt Service Cooperative of Quynh Minh Commune (Quynh Luu)

In other vegetable growing areas such as Nghi Long, Nghi Truong (Nghi Loc), Nam Anh, Xuan Hoa, Van Dien (Nam Dan), Hung Dong (Vinh City), Hung Phu (Hung Nguyen)... due to prolonged heat, dry soil, and insufficient humidity, vegetable production has stagnated. Some have switched to growing melons, while others are plowing and waiting for water...

HDue to drought, vegetable growing areas in the fields have been converted to growing melons. In the garden, only a few types of vegetables can withstand the heat. Photo: Thanh Phuc

It is difficult to take care of, vegetable production is reduced, supply is limited while the demand for green vegetables increases during hot days, so the increase in vegetable prices is considered inevitable. Ms. Nguyen Thi Vinh, a trader at Hung Dung market (Vinh city) said: "The demand for green vegetables during hot days increases, so although vegetables are quite expensive, the amount of green vegetables consumed is double compared to normal days."