Prolonged rain, vegetable prices increase

People buy vegetables at Muong Thanh market ( Dien Bien Phu city).

According to a survey at some markets in Dien Bien Phu City, vegetable prices have increased compared to last week. Specifically, at Muong Thanh market, the price of sweet potatoes and taro increased from 20,000 VND/kg to 35,000 VND/kg; potatoes from 15,000 VND/kg to 25,000 VND/kg; mustard greens from 15,000 VND/kg to 20,000 VND/kg; cabbage from 15,000 VND/kg to 20,000 VND/kg; Malabar spinach from 10,000 VND/bunch to 15,000 VND/bunch; Water spinach increased from 5,000 VND/2 bunches to 8,000 VND/2 bunches... The most expensive are herbs (herbs), such as dill, onions, basil from 2,000 VND/bunch to 5,000 VND/small bunch, onions from 25,000 VND/kg to 40,000 VND/kg. Some seasonal vegetables, such as mustard greens and water spinach, have also increased in price.

Ms. Vu Thi Ngan, a trader at Muong Thanh market, shared: Vegetable prices have increased for the past 4 days, the reason is that the continuous rain has caused flooding, causing vegetables to rot. We now joke with each other that buying vegetables is more expensive than meat. Vegetables sold at the market are mainly imported from Thanh Hung and Pom Lot communes (Dien Bien district), but the amount of vegetables is less than before, the price has gradually increased; the rest is imported from other provinces such as Son La and Lao Cai . These days, due to the rain, the vegetable trucks from other provinces have been slow to return, normally there is one trip a day, but these days there is only one trip every 2 days, the amount of vegetables is less than before also due to the rain, the import price has increased from 5,000 VND - 10,000 VND/kg depending on the type of vegetable. Now business is difficult, if we don't increase the price, we won't make a profit; but if we increase it too much, there will be no customers. Now I'm only increasing the price moderately, but in a few days I'll have to increase it a lot because the import price has increased. People who buy vegetables complain because the price of vegetables has increased. Vegetables are more difficult to preserve during the rainy season. When vegetables are exposed to the rain, their leaves become damaged and they spoil quickly. If they cannot be sold in time, they will be thrown away the next day.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Dan, Viet Thanh village, Thanh Hung commune, picks up vegetable beds damaged by the effects of many days of rain.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Van, a vendor at C12 market, Thanh Binh ward (Dien Bien Phu city) said: In the past few days, when I went to import vegetables to sell, the prices increased. Many types of vegetables were not available, so my stall, which usually had all kinds of vegetables, now only has water spinach, mustard greens, Malabar spinach, squash, carrots, and a few herbs. The import price is high, so I have to increase the price to make a profit. I only keep the price of some home-grown mustard greens the same as before.

The increase in vegetable prices has had a significant impact on consumers, especially low-income families. Ms. Tran Thi Hue , Group 4, Muong Thanh Ward (Dien Bien Phu City) said: My family has 4 people, and we often maintain the habit of eating a lot of green vegetables. Before, I only needed to buy 25,000 VND for 2 meals a day; this week, if I eat some delicious vegetables (lettuce, glass lettuce, chayote shoots...) it will cost 50,000 VND.

Viet Thanh village, Thanh Hung commune (Dien Bien district) has 8 hectares of vegetables of all kinds, 80% of which were damaged; all short-term vegetables and herbs died due to the effects of prolonged rain. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Dan's family planted 2,000m2 ^of mustard greens, onions, and coriander. Nearly half of the vegetable area has begun to be harvested, however, due to heavy rain, all of these vegetables were crushed and rotten. The newly planted vegetable beds only had time to sprout after 10 days before they all died. Mrs. Dan said: My family has been growing vegetables for 40 years now, but there has never been a year with such heavy rain and prolonged rain for so many days. The onion beds may look a little green, but as soon as the sun comes up, they will all be ruined and inedible, even though they are about to be harvested. Currently, vegetable prices have increased from 1,000 VND - 10,000 VND/kg depending on the type, such as water spinach from 800 VND to 2,000 VND/bunch, coriander from 4,000 VND/3 bunches to 10,000 VND/3 bunches when sold to traders... Traders come to the place to buy but not only my family but also other households in the village do not have vegetables to sell. Now we just wait for the sun to rise to replant vegetables.

According to traders and vegetable garden owners, if the rain continues for many more days, vegetable prices will increase even more because vegetables will be flooded, damaged and cannot be planted immediately. This will have a significant impact on traders, consumers and even garden owners, causing tens of millions of dong in losses.

Source