Vegetable prices in Malaysia have surged dramatically, increasing by 50-80% following floods that have devastated over 100 hectares of farmland across five states.
According to the New Straits Times, Lim Ser Kwee, president of the Malaysian Federation of Vegetable Farmers Association, explained that farms in Johor, Melaka, Perak, Kelantan, and Terengganu have suffered severe damage. The flooding has led to a significant shortage in supply, causing prices to spike further.
Photo via The Straits Times
The situation has been exacerbated by similar floods in Thailand, which have disrupted the import of vegetables. "Farmers are now waiting for the floodwaters to recede before they can start replanting," Lim noted.
Vegetable trader Wan Baharuddin Ahmad echoed these concerns, observing a steady rise in prices over the past fortnight. He explained that the supply of commonly consumed greens such as sawi, bayam, and kangkung has dwindled, and the situation is unlikely to improve soon.
"Our suppliers have informed us that this could persist until early next year," Wan Baharuddin stated. He highlighted the steep price increases, with sawi, bayam, and kangkung now costing RM8 per kilogram, compared to RM3.50 previously.
Similarly, the prices of tomatoes and lady's fingers have nearly doubled, reaching RM8 and RM9.50 per kilogram, up from RM4 and RM6.50, respectively. Red peppers have seen the most dramatic increase, now selling for RM22 per kilogram, compared to RM14 before the floods.
Adding to the challenges, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who also chairs the National Disaster Management Committee, announced that a second wave of floods is expected to hit Pahang and Johor starting 7 December.
This forecast raises concerns about further disruptions to the agricultural sector and ongoing price hikes.
