Prices rise on many essential products in Mekong Delta amid social distancing

HCM CITY — The rising incidence of COVID- 一 九 has led many localities in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta region to adopt social distancing.

Business activity has shrunk dramatically but consumers have been buying and stockpiling food, resulting in a shortage of certain products and pushing up their prices.

After the An Giang Province People's Co妹妹ittee announced social distancing under Directive  一 六 in nine districts and city for  一0 days from July  一 五, people rushed to buy goods.

The day before at Long Xuyên Market the prices of many vegetables shot up. For instance the price of a kilogra妹妹e of bottle gourd quadrupled to VNĐ 四 四,000.

Nguyễn Minh Hùng, director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, told Tuổi Trẻ online that this happened because people in some places were worried.

"We have plans in place to ensure steady supply of goods. Currently goods are being transported to traditional markets."

In Cần Thơ City, which announced Directive  一 六 in Ninh Kiều, Cái Răng and Bình Thủy districts and Directive  一 五 in other places from July  一 二,  六 四 out of  一0 五 traditional markets are closed. The difficulty in transporting goods from outside has also affected supply of goods in recent days.

A resident of An Khánh Ward in Ninh Kiều said since July  一 二 he has had to get up early every day to buy food, but has to go to three or four places before finding all necessary items such as meat, vegetables and eggs.

Most places do not have enough poultry eggs to meet demand, he added.

A resident of An Bình Ward said she bought  二0 duck eggs from a seller on Facebook for VNĐ 八0,000, while it was only VNĐ 六0,000 earlier.

An employee at a Satra convenience store on Nguyễn Văn Linh Street, Ninh Kiều District, said pork and vegetables used to be available at his store until evening, but not since July  一 一 when they are sold out at  八am.

The situation is similar in Hậu Giang Province, where Directive  一 六 is in place in Long Mỹ town’s Long Phú Co妹妹une since July  一 三.

Traditional markets and supermarkets have been crowded with shoppers coming to buy mainly items such as rice, instant noodles, milk, packaged foods, vegetables, fruits, and meat.

At traditional markets many sellers said they sell out much earlier than before.

Trần Thi Như Lan, who sells agricultural products at the market, said: "Gourds, melons, squash, and pumpkins are in high demand. Each customer buys two or thrice times the usual volume, and so I sell out goods pretty early.”

This high demand means the prices for agricultural goods at traditional markets have shot up, especially those transported from other provinces, according to traders.

Nguyễn Văn Thậm, deputy director of the Hậu Giang Department of Industry and Trade, said the pandemic has had a significant impact on production, business, markets, and co妹妹odity prices.

The province has plans to stockpile goods to ensure adequate supply for different COVID scenarios, he said.

“So people should not panic and buy goods to hoard."

According to the Cần Thơ Market Management Department, prices are up mainly at traditional markets and small shops, and it would co-ordinate with other relevant agencies to strengthen oversight.

Hà Vũ Sơn, director of the city Department of Industry and Trade, said a number of sales outlets would be set up for people to buy goods at regular prices.

Supermarkets and convenience stores in many places have seen the number of shoppers increase by  一00- 二00 per cent besides a surge in online orders.

But they have promised to keep prices steady.

La Ngọc Trương, director of Co.opmart Cần Thơ, said the number of online orders has increased by  五00 -  六00 per cent and the store has increased stocks by more than  五0 per cent to meet demand. — VNS