South Korea: Food prices surge amid unprecedented heat wave
Seoul, Aug 9
Prices of agricultural goods in South Korea have spiked as the country grapples with a severe heat wave, industry data showed Sunday.
The retail price of 100 grams of spinach vaulted 152.3 per cent as of Friday, up 152.3 per cent from the same day a month earlier, according to the data from the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation.
The price of 10 cucumbers climbed 54.8 per cent during the same period, while 100 grams of blue lettuce jumped 41.7 per cent, according to the data, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The government attributed the hike to the prolonged heat wave, as vegetables, especially green vegetables, are vulnerable to high temperatures.
"Vegetables such as spinach, cucumbers and zucchinis grow well in cool temperatures and tend to surge in prices as their supply drops in the summer season," an agriculture ministry said.
The scorching heat has also affected livestock and fish farms.
As of Friday, a total of 901,602 livestock have died due to the heat wave, of which 95 per cent were poultry, such as chickens and ducks, latest data from the agriculture ministry showed.
At aqua farms, 864,497 fish were reported dead due to warming ocean temperatures as of Friday.
This has pushed up fish prices, with the average auction price of 1 kilogram of flounder at 22,300 won (USD 15.84) from July 27 to August 1, up 2.29 per cent from a week earlier. Compared to the same period last year, the price rose by 13.2 per cent, according to the data from the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives.
Industry watchers expect prices of fish to rise further next month, since sea temperatures tend to cool down more slowly than land temperatures.
"The effect of high water temperatures has just begun, and we expect it to be most pronounced in September. Especially flounders and rockfish will continue to be sold at high prices," an industry watcher said.
Amid growing concerns over heat-driven inflation, the government is carrying out various measures to prevent a rise in consumer prices, such as increasing imports of broiler chickens and expanding promotional events for fish at discount stores.
The extreme heat wave saw midday temperatures rise as high as 40 C early last week and is expected to ease Sunday, with daytime highs forecast to reach around 34 C.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Climate change is really hitting hard everywhere. The loss of 900,000 livestock is devastating. We need global cooperation to tackle these extreme weather patterns, not just temporary fixes like imports.
As someone who follows global markets, this is a reminder that food inflation is a worldwide concern. India should also watch our aqua farm production, especially in coastal areas facing warming waters. 40°C is brutal!
The comparison to our own summer price hikes is apt. This situation shows why we need better cold storage and supply chain infrastructure, whether in Seoul or Mumbai. Also, the impact on fish prices is worrying for protein availability.
152% increase in spinach is insane! Our sabzi mandis see similar spikes during heatwaves. But I'm surprised they didn't predict this earlier—summer always brings lower veggie supply. Government should have planned better.
This is a wake-up call for all countries. The Korean government's measures like increasing imports are short-term solutions. We need long-term climate-resilient agriculture. India could also adopt similar strategies for our own farmers.
It's sad to hear about the fish deaths. Aqua farming is also big in India, and warmer
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