After the flood, Nghe An green vegetables increased in price 2-3 times.

Heavy rain caused historic flooding in the areaQuynh Luu districtThe recent flood has flooded 937 hectares of vegetable fields in communes across the district, causing estimated damage of tens of billions of dong.

The floods at the end of September caused thousands of hectares of vegetables in the province to be severely inundated, causing a sharp decrease in supply. Photo: Quang An

In Quynh Luong commune, there are 170 hectares specializing in the production of green onions and vegetables. According to Mr. Ho Nguyen Tuan - Vice Chairman of Quynh Luong Commune People's Committee, in the past, on average, local people supplied the markets of the northern and southern provinces with 10 - 14 tons of a variety of vegetables per day. However, the recent historic flood completely wiped out the area, which is why the source of vegetables in the area is currently very scarce.

Currently in Quynh Luu district, the price of green vegetables has increased 3-4 times compared to the time before the flood. Specifically: Green onions are priced at 23 thousand VND/kg, Chinese cabbage and Chinese bok choy are 16 thousand VND/kg, cabbage is 8-9 thousand VND/kg, carrots are 12 thousand VND/kg, cucumbers are 15 thousand VND/kg...

Quynh Luu residents replant new vegetables after the historic flood. Photo: Hong Dien

In Dien Chau district, the flood at the end of September also caused more than 1,500 hectares of vegetables to be flooded, of which 1,296 hectares of vegetables of all kinds were damaged by over 70%, unable to recover, forcing people to grow a new crop of vegetables.

Ms. Ho Thi Tam - Chairwoman of the People's CommitteeDien Thanh communesaid: Floods have caused over 80% of the local winter vegetable area to be severely inundated (about 90 hectares), causing a shortage of supply in the market. However, the restoration of production is still facing difficulties because the weather is forecast to rain heavily in the coming days.

In Hung Dong commune, which supplies a large amount of vegetables to Vinh city, over 40 hectares were also damaged in the recent floods. Ms. Nguyen Thi Mui, Vinh Xuan hamlet, said: "Although 3 sao of vegetables of the family have been wiped out, we do not dare to replant the main winter vegetables such as green mustard, lettuce, chrysanthemum, coriander... because from the time of planting to harvest will take about 1 month, with the erratic weather in the rainy season, the risk of total loss will continue. Therefore, people are now focusing on growing mustard greens, which can be harvested in just 1 week, if there is a risk, it will also reduce some of the damage...".

The price of green vegetables at markets in Vinh City is at a high level. Photo: Quang An

According to a survey at markets in Vinh City, the price of green vegetables is currently 2-3 times higher than before the flood. Mr. Ho Trong Thuong - a trader specializing in buying vegetables shared: Currently, the supply of green vegetables in Nghe An is decreasing because the vegetable growing areas in Nghe An have not yet recovered, so every day he goes to the northern markets to buy 6-7 tons of cabbage, sweet cabbage, chrysanthemum greens, eggplant, Chinese cabbage, broccoli... to import to markets and agricultural stores. Due to high input prices plus increased transportation costs during the epidemic season, it is understandable that the price of green vegetables to consumers is high./.