Vegetable Price Slump Hurts Farmers
菜贱伤农
The current vegetable price slump has taken its toll on Chinese farmers. Ten days ago, a 39-year-old farmer named Han Jin killed himself in Shan Dong province because of the price decrease for cabbage. China's ministries of commerce and agriculture have moved to stabilize the vegetable market after hearing the report.
近日蔬菜价格暴跌使广大的中国菜农损失惨重。十天前,39岁的山东籍男子韩进因卷心菜价格过低而自杀身亡。其后,中国农业部和商业部紧急部署稳定蔬菜市场。
Price drops for vegetables have occurred in many areas of China recently, including the national capital of Beijing, as well as Shaanxi, Zhejiang, Fujian and Henan provinces. This development has surprised many farmers, a farmer from Shandong Province says, "Everything I grew this year ended up with a sheer loss. Prices of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers keep going down, not to mention celery and green onions. They're better off rotting on the farm."
近日来在中国包括北京、山西、浙江、福建、河南在内的多个地区出现菜价迅速下跌的现象。这一现象让许多菜农万分惊讶,山东一菜农说道,“今年我种的每种作物都是赔本。西红柿、黄瓜、辣椒价格都在持续下跌,更别说那些容易烂在地里的芹菜和葱了。”
"When my wife and I reaped cabbage in the field, we heard that the wholesale price was 0.3 yuan per kilo. But when we carried them to the market, the price had already decreased much," says a farmer at a vegetable wholesale market in Jinan.
在济南一蔬菜批发市场卖菜的菜农说道,“我和妻子在地里收大白菜的时候还听说价格是3毛钱一公斤,可我们把菜运到市场的时候价格就又降了一大截儿了。”
An official in charge of market operations at the Shandong Provincial Department of Commerce, says the key to dealing with sharp price fluctuations is to encourage farmers to sell their produce in a more collective way. "For vegetable farming, the risks of sharp price fluctuations will be increased if producers sell their vegetables separately," he said.
山东省商务部一监管市场的官员提出解决蔬菜价格波动问题的关键是让菜农们以更集中的方式出售农产品。他还说,如果菜农们都单独出售蔬菜价格波动的风险更大。
The MOC has moved to support a mechanism that will guarantee insurance for farmers affected by price fluctuations. The new mechanism will increase sales and facilitate stronger, more stable relationships between farmers and the supermarkets where the farmers sell their produce. The MOA has also called on local governments to take measures to help farmers find new markets and stabilize vegetable production.
商务部已采取措施全力保护菜农,使其不受价格波动的影响。该措施致力于加强商农合作,促进农超对接。农业部也呼吁各地政府采取措施为菜农寻找新的市场,稳定蔬菜生产。
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