DEMAND for fruits and vegetables has dropped as a result of the movement-control order (MCO) announced on Monday, resulting in oversupply in the market and lower prices, said farmers.

They told The Malaysian Insight that following the MCO announcement on Monday night, panic buying ensued at major supermarkets which cleared out stock of dry food.

However, the demand for fresh vegetables and fruits dropped as they are not the first choice of consumers.

Federation of Malaysian Vegetable Farmers Association president Tan So Tiok said bulk buying of dry produce instead of vegetables led to a drop in the prices of the latter.

“Since the outbreak of Covid-19, domestic tourism industry has also been affected, coupled with this restriction on movement.

“Therefore, restaurants’ demand for vegetables has also decreased and there is an oversupply of vegetables in the market.”

Tan said there is ample vegetable supply and that farmland farming activities are normal.

“The farmers are not infected and the foreign workers working on farmland are not infected. This is fortunate.

“Unfortunately, the short shelf-life of vegetables and the low pick-up in restaurants will naturally reduce the price of vegetables.

“Some leafy greens, such as kai lan, kangkong, and other vegetables, such as long beans and cucumbers, are cheaper now.

“It is difficult to say how much prices have fallen. Some even below the cost price.”

Putrajaya enforced the MCO on Wednesday to curb the spread of Covid-19. Under the order, people are encouraged to stay at home and reduce contact with others.

Farmers’ markets and pasar malam are among the businesses ordered to cease during this period.

In addition to vegetables, fruits also face the same fate.

Malaysia Fruit Farmers Association president Hong Jok Hon said exports of local fruits to Singapore decreased by 30%.

“For example, the average export volume of various types of fruit is 10 tonnes and has now dropped to seven tonnes.

“The Singapore market is the same as Malaysia and consumers are not willing to come out to buy.”

Fruits exported to Singapore include papaya, watermelon, yellow pear, banana, jackfruit, guava, rambutan, durian and mangosteen.

“During the Chinese New Year, fruit farmers were preparing to supply sufficient quantities to export to Singapore. The virus pandemic has now slowed demand,” he said.

Malaysia reported 1,183 cases of the virus as of yesterday, with eight fatalities. – March 22, 2020.