Vietnamese farmer Do Hong Yen faced extensive financial losses when her valuable peach blossom crop was ruined by muddy waters during severe flooding in Hanoi, the worst in two decades.
More than 250,000 hectares of crops, including rice, vegetables, and fruit trees, were destroyed in typhoon-hit northern Vietnam.
Among the most heavily impacted were farmers in northern Hanoi who grow peach blossom trees, which can be sold for up to $400 each before Tet, Vietnam’s lunar new year festivities.
“I lost my entire season’s harvest,” 53-year-old Yen stated, estimating her losses at over $45,000.
Three other peach blossom farmers also anticipate devastating losses after floodwaters rose to two meters (6.5 feet) earlier in the week.
“This catastrophic typhoon and flooding has caused loss of human lives and much more,” Yen expressed.
The peach blossom trees, known for their bright pink flowers when blooming, require dry conditions and moderate watering. However, the crop in Hanoi has been submerged for over two days, preventing any blooms this season.
– Food prices soar –
Typhoon Yagi hit Vietnam’s east coast on Saturday before moving through Hanoi, bringing heavy rainfall. The storm uprooted 25,000 trees in the city, and residents along the Red River were evacuated as floodwaters rose.
As the water receded in Hanoi, the extent of the damage became evident.
“My 500-square meter garden full of banana trees was completely destroyed by the typhoon and floods,” shared farmer Tran Thi Ly. Additionally, her vegetable garden, where she cultivated onions, lettuce, and herbs for central Hanoi markets, was wiped out.
According to the agriculture ministry, 1.5 million chickens and ducks, along with 2,500 pigs, buffalo, and cows, perished in the floods.
The loss of crops caused a sharp increase in grocery prices in Hanoi. Office worker Nguyen Thanh Hoa remarked, “The cost of vegetables has risen by 50% or even doubled, and there is a limited supply.” The city’s trade department requested additional vegetables from the south to alleviate the shortage.
“We are all feeling the repercussions of this disaster,” concluded Hoa.
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