People are heartbroken with the increase in vegetable prices after the storm.

Small traders in Hanoi said prices increased because many vegetables were damaged after the storm and transportation was difficult - Photo: GK

According to Tuoi Tre , the price of green vegetables at many flea markets and traditional markets in Hanoi has increased sharply in recent days.

Ms. Huyen Phuong (Tran Cung street, Cau Giay) said that a few days ago, she went to the W supermarket near her house but they said they were out of green vegetables, so she had to go to the market to buy a bunch of water spinach for 30,000 VND, a kilo of green squash for 40,000 VND and 20,000 VND for 2 tiny tomatoes.

Cheaper supermarkets

Stopping by a vegetable stall at Ha Dong market, Ms. Phuong was surprised when the vendor quoted 13,000 VND per tael of coriander, and if she bought a whole kilo, the price would drop to 120,000 VND.

Other vegetables such as water spinach or Malabar spinach, although significantly reduced in price compared to the previous day, are still around 15,000 - 20,000 VND per bunch, 5,000 - 10,000 VND more expensive than before the storm, depending on the type. "This price is already much lower than the previous days," said a vendor.

Meanwhile, in the large supermarket system, both the supply of goods and prices remain stable. Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Dung, director of Co.opmart Hanoi supermarket, informed that the prices of vegetables and fruits in the system remain stable, the imported supply has increased 3-5 times.

"Every day we have several trucks of goods coming in from Da Lat and Ho Chi Minh City. There is no shortage of supply, including leafy vegetables. Before, we only imported from 4-5 suppliers each day, but now we import from dozens of suppliers. Not only from Da Lat, vegetables are also transported from Moc Chau and Son La ," said Ms. Dung.

For example, each kilo of green squash is only sold at this supermarket for more than 20,000 VND, the same as before the storm.

According to a survey by Tuoi Tre , at the Top Market supermarket chain, green vegetables are still only about 12,000 - 14,000 VND per bag, no different from before the storm. At some famous safe vegetable supply chains in Hanoi, the price of each bag of vegetables remains the same at about 20,000 - 25,000 VND.

When will normal return?

Ms. Truong Kim Hoa, owner of Hoa Vien farm of more than 60 hectares in Thach That (Hanoi), informed that the rain has stopped, there is a bit of sunshine, the weather is favorable, in just about 15 - 30 days she will be able to supply the market with many types of leafy vegetables.

"We were a little lucky this time because we were on high ground so we weren't flooded much. It was mainly because the storm knocked down the mosquito net houses and crushed the vegetables. In low-lying areas like Chuong My, the flooding was so severe that all the vegetables were damaged. That's why the vegetable supply to Hanoi was affected and became scarce," said Ms. Hoa.

Commenting on the sharp increase in vegetable prices at the market, Ms. Hoa said that it is likely to last for a while longer. Because the local supply in Hanoi is scarce. After about 15-30 days, the supply will be restored, combined with goods sent from the South, prices will return to normal.

Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Van Hai, Bac Hong Safe Vegetable Production and Consumption Cooperative, also said that dozens of hectares of vegetables in Dong Anh were damaged, so the unit has been mobilizing from other places such as Sa Pa, Moc Chau, Da Lat to supply.

"We are all linked with other units, if there is a shortage of any product, we will immediately mobilize suppliers. The transportation routes have gradually cleared, we only lack about 20-30% of the supply compared to normal. The past few days were very stressful, but now it is better. We are also preparing to restore production and cultivation in Hanoi," said Mr. Hai.

Green vegetables will not be scarce or lacking.

A leader of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development affirmed that there is no shortage of meat products of all kinds. "We have a surplus of products, but there are not many livestock in flood-affected areas.

The country's major livestock farming areas are concentrated in the Central Highlands and the South. The Northern market will be supported by supply sources in major localities in the South," he affirmed.

Mr. Nguyen Nhu Cuong, Director of the Department of Crop Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, admitted that due to storms and floods, the supply of vegetables from the northern provinces was affected, traffic in some places was affected, so the supply was reduced, thus increasing the price of vegetables.

"However, after the flood, people will replant and usually harvest 30 days or more for the cabbage group, other groups take a little longer. On the other hand, vegetable sources from other areas not affected by the storm will be quickly transported to the storm-affected areas, because of market demand and convenient transportation at this time," said Mr. Cuong.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dan-xot-ruot-voi-gia-rau-tang-sau-bao-20240913075821131.htm