Customers are concerned because the price of green vegetables at Thuy Bieu market in Hue City has increased significantly compared to normal days.

Vegetable prices are rising.

For nearly a week now, the meals of Ms. Nguyen Thi Trang's family (Bau Va residential area, Thuy Xuan ward) have lacked many familiar vegetables. The torrential rains and floods have deeply submerged vegetable-growing areas in La Chu (Kim Tra ward), Phong Hoa, Phong Chuong (Phong Dinh ward), Dien Loc (Phong Phu ward), etc., causing significant damage. "I go to the market every day to buy vegetables, but these past few days, vegetables have been scarce and expensive, and some types are unavailable. My family loves eating vegetables, so the meals after the floods feel incomplete," Ms. Trang shared.

At markets such as Phuong Duc, Thuan Loc, Thuy Bieu, An Lo, Dong Ba, Phu Hau, etc., the prices of vegetables and fruits have increased sharply. Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh, who lives near Thuan Loc market, said that the prices of vegetables and fruits have "skyrocketed". Water spinach, various types of cabbage, jute mallow... are almost double, some even triple, the usual price, and there isn't much available to buy.

According to observations at Thuy Bieu market on the morning of November 19th, prices of many items have increased by 50-100%. For example, water spinach costs 20,000 VND/bundle, down from only 5-10,000 VND/bundle before the floods; coriander and other herbs cost 100,000 VND/kg, down from only 20,000 VND/kg previously; various types of Chinese cabbage and regular cabbage have increased by 10-20,000 VND/kg; cucumbers and bitter melons have increased from 20,000 to 45,000 VND/kg; winter squash has increased from 20,000 VND/kg to 60,000 VND/kg, but the produce is not as good or fresh. Lettuce, sweet potato leaves, amaranth, etc., are sold in small bundles but in limited quantities.

The supply of vegetables to the market has decreased significantly, forcing traders to import from southern and northern regions, but even then, it's not enough. Ms. Phan Thi Gai, a trader at Phu Hau wholesale market (Phu Xuan ward), said: "Never before have vegetables and fruits been so scarce and expensive as they are now. Vegetable-growing areas in Hue City have been completely flooded, resulting in no produce to supply the market. Normally, Phu Hau wholesale market imports goods from northern provinces like Phu Tho and Hanoi , and southern provinces like Long An and Lam Dong, but currently, supplies from many localities cannot meet demand due to recent storms and heavy rains."

While vegetable and fruit prices have risen sharply in traditional markets, supermarkets such as GO! Hue, Coopmart Hue, Bach Hoa Xanh, and WinMart in Hue have recorded relatively more stable prices due to their ability to secure supplies from Da Lat ( Lam Dong ) and southern provinces. However, the quantity and variety of fresh vegetables and fruits are not as abundant as before.

Restart production soon.

Hue City has many large vegetable-growing areas such as Dien Loc (Phong Phu ward); Huong An (Kim Tra ward), Quang Tho (Quang Dien commune)... During the recent floods, dozens of hectares of vegetables were submerged and completely destroyed. Therefore, restoring production in key vegetable-growing areas is considered an urgent solution to stabilize the market.

In Phong Phu ward, famous for its vegetable production supplying many local markets, after the floodwaters receded, farmers immediately began preparing the land and replanting. Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Phong Phu ward, said: “The floods damaged nearly 100% of the vegetable crop. Currently, the local government is mobilizing farmers to take advantage of favorable weather to replant short-term vegetables such as leafy greens, lettuce, bok choy, water spinach… to ensure a timely supply to the market, especially for the upcoming Tet holiday.”

In vegetable-growing areas of wards and communes such as Kim Tra and Quang Dien, people are also quickly planting easily recoverable vegetable varieties. Many households here say they have to sow continuously in batches to compensate for the area completely destroyed. Long-term vegetables and those requiring advanced techniques will be replanted when the weather stabilizes.

Many small traders expect vegetable and fruit prices to fall in the next week or two as short-term crops begin to be harvested. People also hope for stable weather to help vegetables grow well, limit pests and diseases, and help prices return to normal levels soon.

At this time, in addition to the proactive efforts of the people, local departments and specialized agencies are also quickly assessing the damage, providing seeds and technical support; and proposing policies to support farmers after the natural disaster in order to quickly restore production.

According to the leaders of the Department of Industry and Trade, in addition to efforts to ensure food supplies for the people in the affected localities, the department has directed the City Market Management Sub-department to strictly inspect and control the market to rectify the situation regarding goods at risk of price increases. However, after the floods, some items, such as vegetables, fruits, and fresh food, have tended to increase in price due to scarce supply, affecting not only consumers but also creating significant pressure on small traders, growers, and distributors. In this context, restoring production in key vegetable-growing areas is a crucial solution to reduce supply shortages. The Department and relevant agencies will continue to monitor market developments and implement timely solutions to limit sudden price increases, while also creating favorable conditions for the rapid supply of goods from other areas to Hue to stabilize prices as soon as possible.

Text and photos: Song Minh

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/kinh-te/thong-tin-thi-truong/rau-cu-qua-tang-gia-160119.html