PETALING JAYA, April 17 — The extreme hot weather may trigger a hike in the prices of vegetables, fruits and fish.

Cameron Highlands Vegetable Growers Association secretary Chay Ee Mong said the extreme heat has seen yields drop by as much as 20 per cent.

“The dry weather and water shortage have caused pests to multiply, further reducing yield,” he said.

Chay said such pests include the larvae of the Diamond Black Moth, which attacks cabbages and mustard, spider mites (a threat to beans) and aphids.

“The vegetables industry in Cameron Highlands is also facing a critical shortage of workers due to the freeze on the intake of foreign workers,” he said.

Asked if the prices might stabilise once the heatwave has passed, Chay said it was possible but said it would not happen overnight.

“It will depend on the crop cycle. For example, water spinach, mustard and spinach require 25 days to grow on average while Chinese cabbage, chillies and tomatoes take 80 days. When the weather becomes normal again, it could take a month or so for the price drop to occur,” he said.

Freshwater fish farmers also warned of price hikes.

Temerloh Freshwater Fish Breeders and Traders Association chairman Khaidir Ahmad said members would have to increase prices to cover losses following the El Nino effects.

“The heatwave has affected freshwater farmers, which has seen losses of up to RM5 million in Pahang alone. There are some 220 farmers in the state,” he said.

He added the hot weather had caused some of the farmers in Jerantut, Temerloh and Bera to lose almost 70 per cent of their fish.

The patin fish business had been severely hit, and some farmers have stopped rearing the fish since February, he said.

“The stock for patin would surely decrease next month. If the hot weather continues, it will be impossible to cater to demand.”