Unseasonal rains cause vegetable prices in Nghe An to drop
In previous years, during the hot season, green vegetables in Nghe An became scarce and prices skyrocketed. However, this year, with unseasonal rains and prolonged cool temperatures, vegetables have grown well and produced high yields. The abundant supply has caused vegetable prices to drop sharply, causing growers to suffer losses, while consumers have the opportunity to access abundant, cheap green foods...
Favorable weather since after Tet has allowed many vegetable areas in Nghe An to grow well, with few pests and diseases, and produce outstanding yields.
Mr. Hoang Van Phuong - a farmer in Lien Hai village, Quynh Lien commune (Hoang Mai town) said: "Every year when summer comes, vegetables are scarce, sometimes bitter melon is priced at 20,000 - 25,000 VND/kg. This year the weather is cool, there is regular rain, all plants are growing well, the yield is very high. I grow 3 sao of coconut eggplant, each sao produces about 5 tons. At the beginning of the season, the price was 7,000 VND/kg, now in the main season, it is only 1,000 VND/kg. Hiring workers to pick is not enough to cover the cost, not to mention the profit."
Not only eggplant, most other popular vegetables also share the same situation of "good harvest, low price". Bitter melon - a vegetable that requires a lot of care, from the price of 5,000 - 7,000 VND/kg at the beginning of the season, now only 2,000 VND/kg, and consumption is very slow. Radish, chayote, squash... are also only about 1,000 VND/kg - a rare low price in the summer.
In contrast to the same period last year, this time there were severe heat waves, with temperatures commonly reaching 38 - 40 degrees Celsius, causing vegetable leaves to burn, and prices to double or triple. This year, the weather in May was not really hot, with consecutive unseasonal rains, stable temperatures helping vegetables grow strongly, and high yields. However, supply exceeded demand, causing output to stagnate.
In vegetable growing areas such as Quynh Luu, Hoang Mai, Dien Chau, etc., many vegetable fields are ready for harvest but there are no pickers. Ms. Ho Thi Thu in Minh Luong commune, Quynh Luu district shared: “Every year at this time, the sun is hot, vegetables are burnt, there is a shortage of goods, and prices increase. This year, the weather is cool, there are consecutive unseasonal rains, so there is a good crop of vegetables but no one buys them. A good crop but all efforts are in vain!”
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Oanh - Head of Phuong Lien Agricultural Cooperative (Hoang Mai Town), in previous years the Cooperative supplied dozens of tons of vegetables/day to the Northern market. But now, the provinces are also having a good vegetable season, so there is no need to import goods.
“Popular, low-value vegetables such as chayote, eggplant, squash, radish, etc. are very difficult to sell. Northern localities now have abundant supply, so our output has stagnated,” Ms. Oanh added.
Currently, vegetables such as eggplant, squash, chayote, and green squash are in season. However, prices are too low, making it difficult for growers to cover harvesting costs. Although farmers have proactively linked up with traders and organized purchases, the situation of oversupply is widespread, causing consumption to remain slow. Most of these vegetables are short-term, easy to grow, and have high yields, but are low in value and difficult to preserve for long, making consumption even more difficult.
For consumers, this is an opportunity to access cheap green vegetables in the summer - something that has been rare in recent years. If in the same period last year, each bunch of water spinach and mustard greens could cost up to 10,000 - 12,000 VND, now it is only 3,000 - 5,000 VND.
Local markets and supermarkets are full of all kinds of vegetables, tubers, and fruits. Ms. Hoang Thi My Linh in Hung Phuc Ward, Vinh City shared: "Never before in the hot month of May have green vegetables been so cheap and abundant. Going to the market is easier to choose, cheaper, and eating vegetables every day is also less expensive."
Although growers are facing the problem of output, thanks to favorable weather, this year's vegetable crop has few pests and diseases, and no damage due to drought or extreme natural disasters. This is also an opportunity for the agricultural sector and people to review the crop structure and seasonal distribution. Avoiding massive planting, instead, regulating the area reasonably, switching to higher-value varieties, or extending the crop season... will be a sustainable direction. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen consumption connections and expand the market so that the situation of "good harvest, low price" does not repeat itself every year.