The Straits Times reported (January 26) that the Chinese government was under pressure due to rising food prices just before the New Year Festival. China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs had disclosed (January 22) in its regular price report that the average price of vegetables - a basket of 19 vegetables including potatoes, chillies, tomatoes and onions among others - was 28.2 per cent higher than a year before. In particular, certain vegetables commonly used in Chinese cooking - such as cabbage, cauliflower, white radish, garlic, onions, ginger, and cilantro - have seen their prices rise by between 75 and 93 per cent. The price of pork - China's favourite meat - reached 47.51 yuan (S$9.75) per kilogram, approaching peak prices in late 2019 when the country's hog herds were devastated by an outbreak of African swine fever. The Straits Times said high prices have led to widespread grumbling on Chinese social media - where posts pointing out costs of everything from scallions to green chillies have become common. One post shared on social media platform WeChat asked: "Why are vegetables so expensive? Now humble workers who can't afford to eat meat can't even eat vegetables".
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