Monsoon effect: Prices of fish, vegetables double in Kota Baru [NSTTV]

KOTA BARU: Prices of fish and vegetables have doubled over the past three days due to heavy rain.

Traders said suppliers were charging higher prices for the items.

Checks at Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah and Pusat Transformasi Luar Bandar (RTC) Tunjong found that sawi was being sold for between RM8 and RM9 per kilogramme (RM5 before).

Radish was priced at RM10 per kg (RM5 before), cili kampung at RM40 (RM20), cucumber at RM5 (RM3), and a bundle of kangkung at RM3 (RM3 for two bundles before).

Trader Siti Noraini Mohd Yaman, 47, said that the prices of vegetables had increased in the past three days due to the monsoon season.

She was now buying vegetables that were brought in from Thailand and Cameron Highlands.

"The supply of vegetables is sufficient, but the price increase is due to transportation costs. It is a common occurrence during the monsoon season.

"Some traders do not want to raise prices, but buyers should understand that this has happened because of the flood problem. We are receiving supplies at high prices.

"When the monsoon season comes, the prices of vegetables will rise sharply due to the difficulty in getting supplies and having to buy from outside.

"I expect the price increase to continue until the end of this year or the beginning of next year depending on the weather," she said at Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah, here, today.

Rosdi Hussin, 50, said he was forced to sell frozen fish for the past three days because fishermen were not able to go out to sea.

"To meet the demand, I obtained frozen fish from a supplier at RTC.

"During the monsoon season, many fishmongers have to sell frozen fish and the prices are higher than before.

"Selayang fish which was previously sold at RM10 per kilogramme is now sold at RM20. Fresh kerisi is sold at RM14 compared with RM10 before."