Cost of greens up due to rain and reduced supply

PETALING JAYA: The increase in prices of vegetables is mainly due to a reduction in supply, says Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Chan Foong Hin.

“I have enquired with my ministry’s officers and they say there is generally an increase in the prices of vegetables, which is exacerbated by the rainy season,” he said.

“Most affected would be vegetables from the bean family, such as lady’s fingers, French beans, long beans and others,” he said.

“The ministry has detected an increase in the price of certain vegetables at the wholesale stage, leading to higher prices paid by the end consumer after logistics and transportation costs are factored in,” he said.

The supply and prices of leafy vegetables, said Chan, were still stable despite the rainy season.

Vegetables sold in supermarkets, he said, had not seen any significant increase in prices as the supplies were purchased in bulk by the establishments at a wholesale price.“The ministry will continue to work hard to ensure a sufficient and adequate supply of vegetables to ensure prices stay reasonable,” he added.

Chan gave the example of lady’s fingers, which used to cost RM8.94 per kg in November, was now selling at RM14.

Similarly, long beans saw an increase of RM5 to RM12 and French beans from RM11 in November to RM16.

Recently, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said he had issued an order for all his officers to monitor the prices of vegetables not listed as controlled items.

“I have issued an order for my enforcement officers on the ground to do a nationwide check to see which market and which traders are hiking up the prices unnecessarily.

“We want to first collect all the information before we can act as these may be isolated cases of profiteering,” said Salahuddin.