Nghe An: Beef sales are sluggish, many small traders 'hang up stalls' and close the market

Previously, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc, a trader at Coi market in Hung Loc commune (Vinh city), sold about 35 - 45 kg of tamarind meat every day, but after the outbreak, she was forced to close the market. Photo: Thanh Phuc

For the past half month, when the lumpy skin disease outbreak in buffaloes and cows broke out, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc in Thanh Hoa (Thanh Chuong), who sells tamarind meat at Coi market in Hung Loc commune (Vinh city), closed her stall.

Ms. Ngoc said: “Normally, my husband and I butcher a calf every day, and sell it at two markets (Coi market and Ben Thuy market) in just the morning. After the epidemic, the meat has been sluggish and for the past two weeks we have had to close the stall because there are no customers.”

Similarly, at Hung Dung market (Vinh city), there used to be 5 stalls specializing in beef, but now 3 stalls have closed, only 2 stalls are selling at a low level and selling other types of meat such as chicken, goose, and duck.

At Quan Lau market - one of the places with the most beef stalls (12 stalls) in Vinh city, with the amount of beef sold daily calculated by quintal, many vendors have now stopped selling. The rest have reduced the amount of beef imported, some even only take 3-5 kg ​​of meat for each market session.

Ms. Nguyen Ngan Giang, a beef trader at Quan Lau market, said: “Boarding schools have also removed beef and tamarind from children’s menus; shops have also cut down on beef and tamarind dishes; sausage and ham makers have switched to making chicken sausages, chicken ham, and chicken ham; and many housewives have also removed beef from their daily meals. Sales are sluggish, the more they sell, the more they lose, so many people have stopped selling. I only dare to take 3kg for each market session, selling to maintain, not for profit.”

Currently, at traditional markets, many beef stalls are closed and traders are closed due to poor business. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In Quynh Luu district, there are currently 6 localities with lumpy skin disease in buffalo and cows, including: Quynh Bang, Quynh Van, Quynh Hoa, Quynh Tho, Quynh Chau and Ngoc Son with 44 infected animals, of which 9 have been destroyed.

At Ms. Chu Thi Nghia's beef stall in Quynh Hong commune, the buying and selling atmosphere is no longer as bustling as before. According to Ms. Nghia, since the outbreak of lumpy skin disease in buffaloes and cows, people are hesitant to buy beef for use. Like before, every morning when the stall opened, people gathered to buy a lot, by noon there were only about 2-3 kg left, but now all morning they only sell 5 kg, by noon there is even a whole bird's nest of meat left.

Beef stalls at Giat market (Quynh Luu) are deserted. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Due to the epidemic, people are reluctant to use beef, and the price of beef has also decreased compared to before. According to traders, grade 1 beef, which used to cost 240,000 - 250,000 VND/kg, is now sold for 220,000 - 230,000 VND/kg (each kg is reduced by 20,000 VND), but purchasing power has still decreased.

The sharp drop in demand for beef has forced some stalls to close due to lack of profit. At some market locations such as Giat market, Giat crossroads market, Tuan market..., many stalls have been closed for many days.

"Lumpy skin disease in cattle and buffalo and African swine fever are both dangerous infectious diseases caused by viruses. However, this virus is not contagious and does not cause disease in humans. On the other hand, localities are currently actively implementing measures to prevent, control and contain the epidemic in the area. In addition, quarantine work has been tightened, so consumers can rest assured when using meat from livestock with origin and quarantine stamps."

Mr. Ngo Duc Quynh - Deputy Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine