The Star 6 Nov 11;
PETALING JAYA: Vegetable prices have gone up in some cases by as much as 200% because of the rainy season in the country and the massive floods in Thailand.
Federation of Vegetable Sellers Association president Tan Ban Ben said the price of cili padi, red chilli and winter melon had increased many fold due to the severe floods.
“Red chilli was initially selling at between RM4 and RM5 per kilo prior to the floods in Thailand but is now RM12 per kilo. The price of cili padi also has risen to RM12 from RM4 and RM5 per kilo,” he said yesterday.
Tan said the price of winter melon has also doubled to RM2 per kilo.
He noted that as 90% of cili padi was imported from Thailand, the association was looking into buying chillies from China and Vietnam.
“However, only a small amount of chillies will be imported from Vietnam due to high shipping charges,” he said.
Kuala Lumpur Vegetable Wholesaler's Association president Chong Tek Keong said vegetable prices nationwide would be affected during the rainy season.
“The prices will go up further until the end of the year as Thailand is now expected to buy vegetables from Malaysia,” he said yesterday.
“Because of the floods there, we expect Thailand to start buying vegetables from our farmers from next month,” said Chong.
He said the prices of chillies, long beans and cucumbers were expected to rise, adding: “The price per kilo of chilli will be as high as RM10, and those imported from China will be around RM6 to RM7.”
The prices are only expected to drop in January after Chinese New Year, he added.
A survey of the Alor Setar Market found that red chilies were sold at RM13 to RM15 per kilo compared to RM8 previously.
A Bernama report said the price of fish had also increased sharply.
Kuala Lumpur Fruits Wholesale Association chairman Tai Kong Lin said fruit prices would remain unchanged.
When contacted, Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said he was waiting for a report on prices from his officers in Kedah.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations' (Fomca) chief executive officer Datuk Paul Selvaraj lamented the price increase, saying the rainy season should not be made an excuse for sellers to increase the prices.
“We must be self-sufficient and sustain the need for local vegetables,” he said.
He urged the Government to consider investing more on agriculture, adding: “Food security is important and by producing our own vegetables, importing won't be necessary.”
