Heat waves push up vegetable prices

More than 830,000 farm animals die since July 20 amid scorching heat


Prices of green-leaf vegetables shot up as unusually high temperatures continued for the third week, killing acres of crops and hundreds of thousands of livestock.

The supply of vegetables normally rises during summer, but harvests are slow this year as green-leaf veggies increasingly shrivel up with temperatures hovering over 35 degrees Celsius.

“Prices of leafy vegetables are rising sharply as many of them withered to death in the sweltering heat,” an agricultural trader said.

“As high temperatures cause more growth disorders, deliveries of vegetables after the end of this month are expected to drop.”

The price of spinach more than doubled from a month ago, followed by hikes in prices of spring onions, red pepper, lettuce and young radishes.

The wholesale price for 4 kilograms of spinach at Seoul’s Garak Market jumped 118.5 percent over the past month to 25,762 won ($22.87) on Wednesday.

This is 41.9 percent higher than a year ago when the crop’s supply was last in bad shape due to heavy rains.

A kilogram of spring onions traded at 2,195 won in the wholesale market, up 39.5 percent from a month ago.

The price of red pepper rose 39.8 percent from a month ago and 28 percent from a year ago to 47,722 won for 10 kg.

The price of lettuce climbed 25.2 percent from a month ago to 19,630 won for 4 kg.

Vegetable prices at major discount stores have also risen sharply.

A bunch (300 grams) of spinach sold at E-mart for 2,100 won, up 32.9 percent from a month ago.

Prices of a pack of spring onions and young radishes rose 26.6 percent to 2,380 won and 19.7 percent to 2,130 won, respectively, at the nation’s largest discount store chain.

Lotte Mart also said on Wednesday the price of a 150-gram pack of lettuce doubled from last month’s 1,000 won.

Winter-grown radishes and young radishes are both sold for 2,500 won per bunch, up 69.9 percent from a month ago.

The price of a pack of sesame leaves moved up 50 percent to 1,500 won.

As for livestock farms, some 830,633 farm animals including 786,512 chickens, 40,780 ducks, 3,000 quails, 335 pigs and five cows have died because of the heat since July 20, the Agriculture Ministry said Wednesday.

The ministry said the livestock death toll of over 418,000 announced a day earlier was incorrect.

Farms damaged by the heatwave can apply for government compensation within 10 days after the heat wave warning is cleared. So far, 288 such farms have been tallied.

Damages of over 300 million won will be compensated by the Agriculture Ministry, and under 300 million won by local governments.

Farms insured against disasters affecting pork or poultry will be compensated under the state-funded insurance policy.

As part of damage control efforts, the Rural Development Administration is sending out an increased number of officials to help improve insulation and ventilation systems in farm animal shelters, spray water above the roofs and set up shades.

The provincial government of South Gyeongsang spent 223 million won in supplying ventilators and cooling devices for livestock sheds.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)