Malaysia: Flood crisis and prolonged rainy season wreak havoc on prices

CHRISTINA CHIN AND AMANDA YEAP The Star 4 Jan 15;

PETALING JAYA: The East Coast flood crisis has sent vegetable prices soaring, while chicken farmers are scrambling to prevent a glut as delivery to affected states has been cut off.

The prices of fish and seafood are also rising as fishermen are unable to go out to sea due to unfavourable weather and choppy seas.

Federation of Malaysian Vegetables Wholesalers Asso­ciation treasurer Chong Tek Keong said the prices of vegetables have risen by between 40% and 50%.

He said the prolonged rainy season had caused a drop in local supply by between 30% and 40%.

Denying that the profits of wholesalers’ had increased because of the higher demand, he said it was farmers who were charging more for their produce.

“Supply was already low because of the recent crackdown on illegal immigrants in Cameron Highlands and mud floods there and the East Coast floods have pushed prices even higher.

“Wholesalers only resumed their delivery to certain areas in Kelantan and Pahang on Monday,” he said.

Chong said prices of locally grown vegetable were only expected to drop after the Chinese New Year next month.

Cameron Highlands Vegetable Growers Association secretary Chay Ee Mong said the rainy weather and floods affected the produce of vegetables throughout the country and not only in the highlands.

“The weather is too wet for any harvest progress.

“Hopefully, the weather will return to normal soon so that leafy vegetables can be harvested in time to meet the higher demand during Chinese New Year,” he said.

According to the Meteorological Department, the weather was gradually improving in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang but heavy rains were likely to continue in Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.

Chicken farmers said they were being forced to sell poultry below the controlled price of RM4.60 per kilo due to a drastic drop in demand.

Federation of Livestock Far­mers Association of Malaysia secretary general Jeffrey Ng said about 3,000 poultry farms nationwide were struggling to clear their “excessive stock” of birds.

“Restaurants and eateries are essential markets for our members and since the floods, many kitchens cannot operate and the demand for poultry is very low,” he said.

Selangor and Federal Territory Chicken and Duck Traders Association vice-president Yap Chau Hen said some traders were selling birds for as low as RM3.50 per kilo.

National Fisherman’s Asso­ciation general manager Nori­zaman Ghazali said fish prices were usually higher in January because there is less fish in the sea.

“This is a seasonal trend,” he said.

Fisheries Development Autho­rity of Malaysia (LKIM) director-general Abdul Rahman Ellis said with fishermen landing up to 15% less in catches, prices have risen by between 5% and 10%.

Citing an example, he said ikan cencaru (torpedo scad) now cost between RM1 and RM2 more at the farmer’s market.

“Many fishermen in the East Coast are flood victims so they cannot go out to sea,” he said.

Abdul Rahman said LKIM was prepared for the drop in supply and had implemented a freeze on the export of common fishes like the cencaru, selar (yellowtail scad), kembong (short mackerel), pelaling (Indian mackerel) and selayang (round scad) since middle of November.

Camerons greens up by 20% to 40%
The Star 4 Jan 15;

IPOH: Prices of vegetables from Cameron Highlands have increased by an estimated 20% to 40%, according to vegetable sellers here.

Most sellers said the increases started with the mud floods tragedy there in early November.

Mior Jala, 54, said vegetables such as cabbage, sawi (mustard leaves), spring onions and celery were being sold to him at a higher prices.

“My regular customers are complaining to me, but what else can I do? Times are tough for all sellers and there is no extra income for us. Sometimes, we even selling at a loss,” he said.

Mior said the shelf life of greens was another problem, adding that he had been throwing away a lot of rotten vegetables.

“I have to buy less stock and adjust the prices accordingly. Otherwise, it will be difficult to support my family,” said the father of three, aged between eight and 24.

Another seller Salasiah Nawi, 58, said business had not been good with the higher prices.

“I am forced to sell limited vegetable stocks from the highland such as cabbages, tomatoes and brinjals at RM4 or RM5 per kg,” she said.

Many lament over expensive food items
The Star 4 Jan 15;

PETALING JAYA: Fresh greens are not only getting costlier but also scarce as vegetables are quickly snapped up after arriving at the markets.

Canteen operator Janaki Chiew (pic)lamented that prices of many vegetables had been rising steadily since early last month.

She said long beans, sawi (mustard leaves), kangkung (water convolvulus), cabbage and brinjal had become expensive.

“Everything has gone up by 40% to 50%. Long beans which used to cost RM6 are now RM10 per kilo.

“Traders claim their profit is only between 15% and 20% because if the prices are too high, they will lose customers,” she said.

Housewife Pat Boey said her regular vegetable seller in Kepong had been charging RM1 for a few stalks of spring onion.

“I used get a bunch for 50 sen, but now I am paying double.”

In George Town, chef Alex Heng Song Ling of the You Yen Vegetarian Centre said he had no choice but to pay more.

“What can I do? I run a vegetarian restaurant and greens are my main ingredients.

“I now pay between 30% and 50% more for chillies. I have to absorb the costs because I can’t simply change my prices with vegetable costs rising so often.”

Leaf Healthy House manager Candy Lee said she paid between 20% and 40% more for greens last week and found that some vegetables were not available.

She said she paid between 20% and 40% more for cauliflower and broccoli last week.

Federation of Malaysian Consumer Association secretary-general Datuk Paul Selvaraj urged the Government to implement strong agricultural policies to ensure food security and sustainability.

He said food prices skyrocketed each time there was a crisis.

“We need a long-term approach so that we are not dependent on just a few farms,” he said.

Floods: Vegetable, fish prices expected to stabilise in three months
The Star 3 Jan 15;

BERA: The rise in prices of vegetable and fish in several areas especially in flood-hit states is expected to be resolved in less than three months.

Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the ministry had imported supplies of vegetables and fish from neighbouring countries to overcome shortage and to stabilise food prices.

"Things are still under control as many people do not need to buy vegetables as they are at relief centres, but I am concerned when they return home.

"That is why we have directed the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) to import food and vegetables," he told reporters after visiting flood victims at SMK Kerayong relief centre, here Saturday.

The items include round cabbage, tomato, red pepper, potato, ginger, onion and big onion from India and Holland, coconut and garlic imported from Indonesia, China, Vietnam, India and Holland.

He did not refute the price of vegetables in flood hit states had increased by 70%.

However, there was no problem with supply of fish as frozen fish had been stocked since November.

Fama and the National Fishermen Association (Nekmat) would be sellling goods at low prices after the floods, in an effort to stabilise prices.

Ismail said flood victims must register with the district agriculture department to receive compensation under the Disaster Relief Fund established last year. – Bernama