Brace for dearer greens, say farmers

PETALING JAYA: Farmers in Cameron Highlands are indicating that there may be an increase in the prices of vegetables grown there on account of the dry season.

Cameron Highlands Vegetable Growers Association secretary Chay Ee Mong said the increase was due to the shortage in supply of (lowland) greens from Johor and Malacca.

“Therefore, prices of vegetables may rise steadily this month due to the shortage and demand from other states,” he said, adding that the situation was compounded by a reduction in vegetable imports from China.

He claimed that vegetable supply from Cameron Highlands could be diverted to meet the demand in Johor and Malacca, where the produce was also exported to Singa­pore.

Meanwhile, Johor Fama director Faridulatrash Md Mokri said that even if there were an increase in the prices of greens in the state, it would only be between 20 and 30 sen.

“For instance, fresh red chillies are still selling at RM11 or RM12 per kg,” he said.

Nonetheless, he confirmed that the price of tomatoes had increased recently from RM4.80 to RM5 per kg at farmers’ markets because of reduced supply, especially from Cameron Highlands.