Nghe An: Spring onion and tomato prices tripled at the beginning of the season

With over 1,000 hectares of vegetable production, Quynh Luu is the largest vegetable “barn” in Nghe An province, supplying products across the country. At this time, people are harvesting some of the first vegetable crops of 2019. According to research, most types of vegetables are currently increasing in price.

Traders buy green onions at 22,000 VND/kg; vegetable farmers in Quynh Luu are happy because the prices of all vegetables have increased. Photo: Viet Hung

At the vegetable field of Quynh Luong commune, according to Mr. Nguyen Van Chau - a vegetable grower, the price of almost all vegetables has increased at this time, the highest being green onions and tomatoes. Compared to the beginning of the season last year, the price has increased 3 times. His family grows 0.6 sao of tomatoes, after Tet until now has only harvested 700 kg, expected to finish harvesting by the end of March; if the price is stable, it will bring in a profit of nearly 20 million VND.

Tomato plants take about 3.5 months from planting to fruiting; if well cared for, the average yield per sao is 3 - 3.5 tons. Currently, tomato prices range from 10,000 - 12,000 VND/kg (an increase of 4,000 - 5,000 VND/kg compared to the time after Tet and 3 times higher than at the beginning of 2018).

Currently, tomato prices have tripled compared to last year. Photo: Viet Hung

As for green onions, this item is scarce so the purchase price is very high. According to Quynh Minh commune, there is not much area left to harvest green onions, so traders are "competing to buy" at the price of 22,000 VND/kg.

Ms. Ho Thi Hoa, a vegetable grower in Quynh Minh commune, said that it is only the beginning of the season but the price of green onions has increased to 22,000 VND/kg, which is very high. While at the beginning of last year's season, it was only 5,000 - 7,000 VND/kg; and in the middle of the season in April - May, there were times when it was 3,000 - 4,000 VND/kg. However, the area of ​​green onions that can be harvested and sold at such a high price is insignificant.

According to the people, the reason why the price of green onions and tomatoes has increased sharply during this time of year is because it rains a lot, so planting is slower. While other localities have not yet harvested products, in the coastal communes of Quynh Luu, many areas of green onions and tomatoes have been harvested, so traders have gathered here to buy, causing prices to "increase".

Quynh Luu vegetables are collected and sold throughout the country. Photo: Viet Hung

Not only scallions and tomatoes, but many other vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, Chinese bok choy, and lettuce have increased in price to 10,000 VND/kg (an increase of 3,000 VND/kg compared to the price after Tet). Along with focusing on harvesting the first crop of vegetables, people are currently continuing to plant and care for other vegetables.

It is known that during this time, farmers are gradually switching from leafy vegetables to growing green onions to adapt to the hot weather.