Virus concerns take a toll on vegetable grower market sales

Vegetable growers and other smallholder farmers are concerned about selling their produce at fresh food markets as customer numbers dwindle with the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Many local markets around the country are quiet with some in northern provinces ready to close as consumers stay away from large gatherings worried about contracting the virus.

Many vendors have put up the shutters as their sales fail to cover the rent, while others have to struggle to put food on the table and meet debt repayments.

A vegetable grower in the capital, Mr. Touy told Vientiane Times last week that he was struggling to make ends meet with fewer people visiting the market and hot weather affecting production.

“Some varieties of vegetables cannot be supplied to the market during this period as the growing conditions aren’t suitable,” he said.

As more people stay at home, demand is slackening off, and it’s taking more time to sell his vegetables, he added.
Mr. Touy cannot imagine people going to markets in the future if the spreading of Covid-19 escalates.

“I’m also not sure I will continue growing vegetables because I’m concerned about being infected with this virus,” Mr. Tuay said.

Vegetable growers in his village are set to hold a meeting on the issue as market sales make a significant contribution to local incomes.  

After the government announced the temporary closure of border checkpoints to travellers to prevent the spread of Covid-19, large numbers of people have purchased dried foods because of concerns about food shortages.

The online food delivery business is currently booming as consumers avoid social contact at markets and restaurants.    
To advertise any shortages, the government advised local people to grow more crops and breed livestock for domestic supply.      

Vientiane Foodstuff State Enterprise confirmed that it could supply sufficient quantities of meat for residents of the capital via a large distributor.

The Done Dou Slaughterhouse can process 550 pigs and 25 cattle and buffaloes daily to supply local markets and the company is also producing other meat products for sale.

A senior economist commented that Lao consumers would not face severe food shortages as in other countries if the international supply chain is disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

source http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/sub-new/Business/Business_Virus_63.php