Persistent rainfall over recent days has disrupted vegetable supply from farmers and wholesalers in Kuantan, leading to price increases estimated at 55 percent as markets face reduced volumes.
A survey at farmers' markets recorded higher prices for okra, long beans, aubergine, tomatoes, bird's eye chillies, mustard greens, and water spinach compared with the previous week.
Trader Zainal Muhammad, 51, said the price trend was expected during the monsoon period. He said, "When it rains, many vegetable plots are flooded and damaged, and that is why prices go up." Current prices include okra and aubergine at around RM9 per kilo, roughly US$1.92, and water spinach and mustard greens at RM7 per kilo, about US$1.49.
Zainal, who has worked in the sector for 22 years, said traders were adjusting pack sizes to maintain accessibility for customers. He explained, "I sell in smaller quantities — about 300 grams per pack for RM2.50 to RM3. This way, customers can still buy, and we still make a profit, even if it's not much."
Another trader, Yusri Yaakob, 52, reported that nearly all vegetables had risen by RM5 to RM8 per kilogram, around US$1.07 to US$1.72. He expects the trend to continue until the end of the year. He said tomatoes had increased from RM4 to RM7 or RM8 per kilo, while Vietnamese chillies rose from RM18 to RM22 per box.
Yusri added that customer numbers had dropped during heavy rain, though sales improved slightly this week. "If the weather is clear, the response is good, but when it rains, it's difficult. Last week it rained all day, and we could practically count how many people came in," he said.
Another seller, Muhaini Muhammad, 50, described supply scarcity as the main constraint. She said farms were flooded and crops were maturing more slowly, reducing volumes available to traders. "Sometimes we only get a small amount of stock because the farms are flooded and crops mature more slowly," she said. "This forces us to limit our packaging sizes so that more customers can still buy."
The situation reflects ongoing supply pressure linked to monsoon conditions, with traders adapting pack sizing and pricing to maintain sales during reduced availability.
Source: The Vibes
