HIGHER rainfall could push the price of vegetables – the leafy ones in particular – up by as much as 20%, farmers and growers said.

The increase in precipitation during the monsoon transition period, which is expected to continue until November, affects the growth cycle of the vegetables, which in turn impacts supply, they told The Malaysian Insight.

Malaysian Vegetable Farmers Federation president Lim Chai Heng said the price of certain vegetables has gone up over the past two weeks.

“The most noticeable increase is among the leafy vegetables such as choy sum, bok choy and water spinach,” he said.

Lim said just two weeks ago, the wholesale price of choy sum was RM2.50 per kg. Now it’s RM3 per kg.

“Bok choy has gone from RM3 per kg to RM4, while water spinach has gone from RM2 to RM2.50.”

But not all vegetables will become expensive in the coming days, Lim said.

Among the greens bucking the trend is tomatoes, whose price had fallen from RM7 per kg to around RM5, he said.

Lim said more rainy days corresponds with higher prices – it is a natural cycle.

“There’s nothing much we the farmers can do. We are at the mercy of nature – the weather – and this happens every year.”

He said too much rain causes the vegetables, especially those planted outdoors in the open fields, to rot.

Cameron Highlands Chinese Farmers Association deputy president Cheng Nam Hong said prices of greens grown in the highlands could also go up due to the rain, even though most of the vegetables there are grown in greenhouses and therefore more sheltered from the rain.

Instead of the problem of excessive moisture, Cheng said there is simply not enough sunlight.

“So vegetables like tomatoes, do not ripen, leading to reduced yields.

“Leafy vegetables will grow slower, and spring onions are not easy to grow when it rains often. So the prices of these vegetables might spike in the days ahead.”

Federation of Vegetable Farmers Associations in Malaysia president, Lim Ser Kwee, does not believe the increased rainfall would have any significant impact on vegetable supply.

“Because the rain seems to come and go. It’s not a prolonged heavy rain.

“I do not believe the impact of the intermittent rain is significant.”

He said it would be different if there were several consecutive days of heavy rain and no sunshine.

“That will then have a significant impact on vegetable growth. But for the moment, the situation is still okay.”

Lim also said he had been informed the harvest is still good.

“So there should not be a problem with supply.”

The Malaysian Meteorological Department, in a statement on September 14, said the monsoon transition phase is expected to continue until November 19.

During this period, due to changes in wind direction, thunderstorms or heavy rain with strong winds are expected nationwide.

The statement also said excessive strong winds could lead to flash floods and damage to poorly built structures, and cautioned the public to be vigilant. – September 23, 2023.