Nghe An: Spring onions and tomatoes prices tripled at the beginning of the season.

With more than 1,000 hectares of vegetable production area, Quynh Luu is the largest vegetable "barn" in Nghe An province, specializing in supplying products across the country. At this time, people are harvesting some of the first vegetable areas of the 2019 season. 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 planted 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, the profit will be 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 increased 3 times 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, the area of ​​green onions being harvested is not much, 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 for the sharp increase in the price of green onions and tomatoes during this time of year is because it rains a lot so planting is slower, while other localities have not yet had products to harvest, in the coastal communes of Quynh Luu, many areas of green onions and tomatoes have been harvested so traders have gathered here to buy, the price has been "increased".

Quynh Luu vegetables are collected and consumed throughout the provinces and cities in the country. Photo: Viet Hung

Not only scallions and tomatoes, but many other vegetables such as bok choy, Chinese cabbage, 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 crops of vegetables, people are currently continuing to plant and take care of other vegetables.

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