▲ Watermelons "freshly harvested from famous production areas" are on limited sale at the Lotte Mart Zettaplex Seoul Station branch in Jung-gu, Seoul, on July 15, the day of Chobok.
The government has analyzed that despite recent heavy rains and heatwaves, there have been no major disruptions in the supply and demand of agricultural and livestock products, and that prices are generally stabilizing due to increased production and expanded supply.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) announced this on July 20 after holding the 22nd meeting to check supply and demand conditions to review the supply and price trends of major agricultural and livestock products.
According to the ministry, as of July 16, the price of spinach was 1,034 won per 100g, down 37.9% from the same period last year.
The price of cucumbers (per 10 units) fell by 31.7% to 5,310 won, and perilla leaves dropped by 28.7% to 1,899 won per 100g.
Napa cabbage fell by 24.8% to 3,493 won per head, Cheongyang chili peppers by 21.5% to 1,255 won per 100g, and cabbage by 21.5% to 3,006 won per head.
Peeled garlic prices decreased by 18.5% to 10,117 won per 1kg, and radishes by 15.9% to 2,051 won per unit.
Tomatoes and lettuce also saw price drops of over 10% compared to last year, while prices for paprika, zucchini, and carrots also declined.
On the other hand, the price of green onions rose by 20.5% per 1kg compared to last year due to poor harvests caused by worsening weather conditions.
Among fruits, the price of watermelons, a staple of summer, fell by 29.1% from last year to an average of 21,397 won per melon due to increased shipments.
Prices for oriental melons (10 units) and peaches (white peaches, 10 units) also fell by 19.6% and 16.6%, respectively, while apples dropped by 9.6% to 25,532 won per 10 units.
Conversely, the price of pears rose by 18.5% to 46,461 won per 10 units compared to last year, due to factors such as reduced storage volumes.
For fruit vegetables like zucchini and cucumbers, which have seen significant price drops, the ministry plans to implement measures including discounts on agricultural materials, consumption promotion events, shipment adjustments in major production areas, and discount sales.
Livestock products still maintained higher price levels than last year due to factors such as animal diseases.
Hanwoo beef sirloin rose by 16.8% to 10,600 won per 100g, pork belly (samgyeopsal) by 8.5% to 2,887 won per 100g, and chicken by 2.5% to 6,199 won per 1kg.
However, the ministry stated that egg prices are showing a downward trend due to expanded discount sales, production recovery, and increased imports of fresh eggs.
According to the ministry, the average retail price for 30 eggs fell from 7,618 won on June 29 to 7,561 won on July 7, and further to 7,373 won on July 16.
The ministry explained that broiler chicken prices have also neared last year's levels, partly due to the government importing and supplying 13 million hatching eggs.
Furthermore, the ministry reported that recent heavy rains and heatwaves have caused approximately 390 hectares of crops, including paddy beans, to be flooded, and about 200,000 livestock, including broilers, to perish.
However, it determined that the impact on overall production is not significant, and there are no disruptions in the supply and demand of agricultural and livestock products.
As repeated rain and heatwaves raise concerns about the spread of pests and additional damage from heat stress in livestock, the ministry decided to strengthen on-site technical support in cooperation with related agencies such as the Rural Development Administration and local governments.
It is also providing discounted pesticides and nutrients for pest control through the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (Nonghyup) and self-help groups, and is expanding the supply of heat-blocking coatings to reduce heatwave damage in livestock barns.
Park Jung-hoon, Director General for Food Industry Policy at the ministry, said, "We will constantly monitor the growth and supply conditions of major items and respond preemptively to ensure that supply instability does not occur due to summer weather conditions," adding, "We will also continue to provide support to reduce the management burden on farmers."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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