KUALA LUMPUR: The prices of several types of vegetables are expected to rise by more than 50 per cent until the end of the month due to unpredictable weather conditions caused by the monsoon transition phase.
Cameron Highlands Vegetable Farmers Organisation president Datuk Chai Kok Lim said heavy rainfall and flooding in several states have led to a decrease in vegetable supply.
"Previously, we could harvest 100kg of vegetables a day, but now we can only harvest 40kg due to the bad weather," he said.
He also said the rainy weather had affected the quality of the vegetables due to the lack of sunlight.
Chai said the vegetable prices had risen sharply since two weeks ago, but the increase would not exceed 100 per cent.
"For example, the price of tomatoes, which was RM4 per kg, has now risen to RM6 per kg. Mustard greens (sawi), which were previously RM3 per kg, have now increased to RM8 per kg. Similarly, lettuce has gone up from RM4 per kg to RM9 per kg," he explained.
He added that vegetable production has decreased by 50 per cent, causing supply to be disrupted.
Meanwhile, a survey at the Chow Kit market here found an overall increase in vegetable prices, including tomatoes sold at RM5 per kg, carrots at RM3.50 per kg, and red chillies at RM12 per kg.
The survey also showed that the sharp price hikes affected leafy vegetables like broccoli, which is now priced at RM12 per kg, compared to below RM10 previously.
An ex-teacher, Salahuddin Ahmad, 70, said while the price increase is noticeable, as consumers, the public understands that weather factors are contributing to the sharp rise in vegetable prices.
"Previously, RM30 was enough to buy a variety of vegetables, but now it's no longer sufficient," he said.