Recent weather conditions have led to a fluctuation in vegetable prices in Malaysia, with leafy vegetables such as lettuce experiencing a price increase from approximately $0.63 per kg to $1.26 per kg over a single weekend. Kuala Lumpur Vegetable Wholesalers' Association president Wong Keng Fatt attributes this to inclement weather, which has generally raised the prices of leafy vegetables by 30% to 40%. The weather has also negatively impacted tomato yields in Cameron Highlands, pushing prices from approximately $0.42 to $0.84 per kg due to a lack of sunshine and limited harvest.
Conversely, the price of imported vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower has decreased due to abundant harvests abroad. Malaysian farmers have increased production to maintain a steady supply, with no reported shortage in domestic vegetable supply. Vegetable importer Lee Chee Keong mentioned that adjustments in the import of greens are made based on domestic shortages to ensure sufficient supply, especially with the upcoming festive seasons.
The Federation of Vegetable Farmers Associations president Lim Ser Kwee noted that vegetable farms in Johor have been affected by floods and a lack of sunlight, reducing output by 20%. However, in Cameron Highlands, greenhouse cultivation has minimized weather impacts on vegetable output, though recent wind disasters have delayed harvesting by one to two weeks. Despite these challenges, the supply of sawi remains sufficient, and farmers are planting vegetables for the Chinese New Year in anticipation of favorable weather.
Tan Chee Kiong, secretary of the Federation of Malaysia Vegetable Growers, reported that 16 hectares of Johor vegetable farms were submerged, damaging about 50 tons of vegetables, primarily red spinach and water spinach. This has affected only 2% of the market supply. Monsoon rains have also increased farming costs by 40% and led to the underpricing of local produce due to the influx of cheaper imported vegetables. Cameron Highlands farmers face challenges with cucumber harvests, which are often supplemented by imports from Thailand, further lowering the price of local cucumbers.
Source: The Star