JOHOR BARU: Vegetables at wet markets may look less appealing, but farmers say wrinkled chillies and slightly yellowed, hole-speckled greens are safe to eat.
They explained that the hot and dry weather is affecting the vegetables’ appearance, but not quality.
Federation of Vegetable Farmers Association president Lim Ser Kwee said farmers generally welcome hot and dry spells because they often lead to abundant harvests.
However, he said the heat can cause chillies to wrinkle.
Lim explained that vegetables become more vulnerable to insects such as the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) during prolonged dry weather.
“The bugs usually lay eggs on the leafy parts of the crops and, without rain to wash them away, the larvae damage the vegetables, leaving more holes than usual.”
Lim said central and northern states in the peninsula, such as Cameron Highlands and Penang, are currently experiencing higher rainfall compared with southern states like Johor, Melaka and Negri Sembilan.
“This is slightly unusual because November is typically the wet season,” he said.
On Oct 31, pollution in Sungai Johor disrupted water supply to about one million people in Kota Tinggi, Kulai, Pontian and here.
Asked if any farms were affected, Lim said there had been no complaints so far.
“Most farms have their own irrigation system to cope with dry spells or water disruptions,” he said, noting that most vegetable farms in Johor are located outside the affected areas.
