Agricultural products are 'unblocked' as Nghe An moves to a new normal state

People of Nam Xuan (Nam Dan) are excited to harvest herbs. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Early September, growersNam Xuan spices(Nam Dan) sadly plucked and dumped tons of chives, perilla, basil, and Vietnamese balm... The reason is that when the Covid-19 epidemic became complicated, Nam Dan and many other localities implemented Directive 16, traditional markets had to close to prevent the epidemic, and there was no place to sell spices, with estimated losses of billions of dong. However, Nam Xuan farmers still stayed in the fields to take care of and pluck old vegetables, so that new, green vegetables could grow.

Although compared to previous years, vegetable prices have decreased by 1,000 - 2,000 VND/bunch, people are still very excited because they have an outlet. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Immediately after the epidemic in the province was controlled, the circulation of goods became easier, along with that, the people's markets, restaurants, and eateries reopened, the demand for this vegetable increased again.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thao, a resident of Xuan Mai hamlet (Nam Xuan), said: “My family has more than 1 sao of basil. Since the outbreak, my family has had to cut 3 crops of basil, causing a loss of 5-7 million VND. For about a week now, when the epidemic has been controlled, restaurants, hotels, and collective kitchens have resumed operations, and herbs are in high demand again. There are days when we cannot cut them in time to sell to traders.”

Currently, in the Xuan Son spice vegetable field, home gardens, farms, and spices have been harvested and imported to traders. Although the price of spices is lower than every year, it is also a good sign for the people here when they have an outlet, not having to cut it down.

On average, every day, trader Tran Thi Huong buys 2 tons of various herbs and vegetables to sell to the provinces. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Ms. Tran Thi Huong, a vegetable and spice trader in Nam Xuan commune, said: “For more than a week now, I have been purchasing an average of about 2 tons of vegetables, squash, and eggplants of all kinds every day for people in the area. Vegetables are imported to Vinh, Ha Tinh, and Quang Binh. Although the price is not as high as in previous years, we have found an outlet.”

With nearly 30 hectares of specialized pondstilapia, 85 households of Duc Thinh Production Team (Tan Phu Commune, Tan Ky District) supply the market with about 200 tons of fish each year at a price of 30,000 - 33,000 VND/kg. However, this year, when the fish harvest peaked, the disease broke out, traders stopped purchasing, causing hundreds of tons of fish to "stay in the pond". From mid-September until now, when the disease was under control, the market circulated, currently 30% of the fish output has been sold to traders.

Currently, 30% of fish production in Tan Phu has been consumed at an average price of 26,000 VND/kg. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Nguyen Trong Bang - Head of Duc Thinh Production Team said: "Compared to last year, the price of fish has dropped to only 26,000 VND/kg (in 2020 it was 30,000 VND/kg), but it is a joy to be able to sell. Although the profit is small, the output for the fish has been resolved. In the near future, if the epidemic is controlled, the remaining fish will be consumed, the price of fish will hopefully increase, and farmers will make a profit."

After having to sell off to “cut losses”, currently, rice, peanut and sesame purchasing agents in Nghi Van, Nghi Dien (Nghi Loc), Dien An, Dien Thinh (Dien Chau) localities are bustling again. According to a peanut trader in Dien Thinh, recently, these items have been promoted for consumption, mainly concentrated in the Northern and Southern markets, with a small amount exported to China. Compared to 1 month ago, the prices of rice, peanuts and sesame have shown signs of a slight increase, the amount of inventory is not much, most of the purchases are sold on the same trip, and orders from the main sources have increased.

Cold storages in Cua Lo are also bustling again after long days of closure to prevent and control the epidemic. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Currently, localities in the province are switching tonew normal stateBusiness and trading activities have been restored. Agricultural products in the province have expanded their consumption markets from within the province, domestically and for export. Many items such as rice, peanuts, industrial tea, aquatic products, seafood, livestock, poultry, etc. are on the way to recovery, prices have increased slightly, helping farmers to be excited to stick to the fields, hills, and seas to exploit and produce./.

Thanh Phuc