KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 — Several farmer associations have warned consumers against the rise in vegetable prices as continuous rain in the last few days has caused a shortage of vegetables in the market.
According to a report by The Star, Federation of Vegetable Farmers Associations president Lim Ser Kwee said the sudden and continuous heavy rains had damaged over 1,000 tonnes of vegetables at farms in the southern peninsula, with losses amounting to tens of millions of ringgit.
Lim also pointed out that the floods in Johor surged overnight and caused many farms to be inundated and damaged by strong winds.
“They reported flooded roads, which have affected transport vehicles entering the farms, causing supply chaos in the vegetable wholesale market.
“Farmers also incurred more losses as they were not able to salvage their pesticides and fertilisers,” Lim was quoted saying.
Despite the losses, Lim said farmers would keep rejuvenating the soil and planting on a smaller scale even amid the rainy weather forecast.
“If we don’t, the vegetable supply and prices will be affected more severely, especially when the Ramadan fasting month and Hari Raya Aidilfitri come,” he said.
Lim urged the government to draft a plan for national subsidies for vegetables.
He said all state governments should have a systematic mechanism to distribute farming subsidies to vegetable farmers across the country when their businesses have been affected by flood-related issues.
The federation’s secretary-general Chay Ee Mong also warned of a possible price increase if the weather remained unfavorable towards the farmers.
He added that there have been several days of strong winds and more than 30 hours of continuous drizzle in Cameron Highlands.
“This will certainly affect highland vegetables, delaying their growth and harvest cycles. Their yields will drop,” he was reported saying.
