Federation of Vegetable Farmers Association of Malaysia chairman Lim Ser Kwee highlighted concerns among farmers regarding uncertain crop yields, attributed to the hot and dry conditions of the southwest monsoon, expected to persist until mid-September. The weather has been forecasted by MetMalaysia to alter weather patterns, leading to reduced rainfall. Lim pointed out the direct impact of weather conditions on vegetable growth and yield, emphasizing the struggles with extreme heat and limited water sources for irrigation. Temperatures reaching 35°C have been noted to cause rapid water evaporation, negatively affecting crops such as long beans, which show early signs of distress through yellowing leaves.
Additionally, rising costs for essentials like fuel, fertilisers, and pesticides have compounded the challenges for farmers. Assoc Prof Siti Noor Hajjar Md Latip from Universiti Teknologi Mara's Plantation and Agrotechnology Faculty explained that hot and dry conditions increase the processes of photosynthesis, transpiration, and respiration in vegetables, reducing productivity and yields. She underscored the critical role of weather in crop productivity and the potential for extreme weather to disrupt vegetable price stability. High temperatures and excessive rainfall pose risks to crop supply, impacting food security. Siti Noor Hajjar advocated for exploring alternative methods to ensure food security and emphasized the importance of effective storage systems for maintaining vegetable freshness, quality, and quantity to stabilize prices.
Source: thesun.my