KUALA LUMPUR: Vegetable prices are expected to triple next month and in December due to the northeast monsoon, which is forecast to bring heavy rain and flooding in several areas nationwide.
Cameron Highlands Malay Farmers Association president Datuk Syed Abdul Rahman Syed Abd Rashid said most vegetable prices at farms have increased by 20 to 50 per cent in the last week.
He said the price of tomatoes has increased from RM1.50 per kg to RM2.30 per kg.
"Other vegetables that have seen price increases include leeks, kailan, mustard greens, pak choy, cucumbers, eggplant and chickpeas.
"The price of vegetables is expected to rise again and become expensive in November and December," he told Berita Harian today.
Syed Abdul Rahman said the current weather conditions caused fungal diseases to spread rapidly and this affected the production of vegetable produce.
He said leafy greens grown without rain shelter suffered damage.
"Therefore, the use of pesticides is one of the way to face the monsoon season.
"Often (in the rainy season), farmers will use pesticides to avoid vegetable damage," he said.