"How much did you pay for your dhania?" is the question many people are asking right now.

In a recent TikTok video, one person complained about paying R20. This sparked a discussion on the price with some social media users responding that they paid as much as R45 a bunch.

The steep price is not unusual for this time of the year - when the weather becomes warmer from December through to early March.

Seniren Naidoo, a farmer, whose family farm is on a hilltop between Tongaat and Ballito on the north coast, grows a variety of leafy vegetables, including dhania.

Naidoo said the dhania epidemic did not exist 20 years ago.

"It only started about eight years ago due to extreme weather conditions. Dhania needs to be grown in 20 degree weather, which is why it does well in KwaZulu-Natal because the weather adds to the growth. But due to the heat and humidity over the three months, the dhania melts and the crops burn. That is when supply decreases and demand increases,” said Naidoo.

The demand is currently at its highest, he said.

“Prices per bunch skyrocket because it’s in high demand but we can’t help it, since our crops are melting due to the heat. However we still sell our dhania at a normal price between R450 and R500 a box. This works out to R10 a bunch. Once we give it to agents, who supply the stores, the prices change, especially when there is not enough of the product."

He said many farmers were discouraged to grow dhania after they started losing their crops.

“We also lost a lot of dhania in the last few months but we keep growing because we know if we stop, the supply will reduce even further. We will see the dhania supply getting even shorter because of Eid."

Naidoo said this had been the biggest shortage of dhania he had seen since his family started farming.

“It will only get worse from here until the weather cools. We make sure irrigation is in place and the dhania is shaded but that doesn’t mean we also don’t lose crops. However we will see a change in mid-March when the temperature drops and the crops will grow much better."

He said that dhania was a staple in many homes.

“We cannot live without dhania. We use it for everything that we cook. It's an important part, so no matter how many times our crops die due to the heat, we will keep growing more for the sake of the public. I’ve seen on social media how many people are concerned about the shortage of dhania but remember, this shortage won’t last and we will go back to normal soon,” said Naidoo.

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