Kuala Lumpur: The Persekutuan Agricultural Marketing Agency (FAMA) found that vegetable prices in Malaysia in the Cameron Highlands are now erratic due to current production and demand factors.

FAMA Pahang director Saiful Sadri said there are about 23 types of leaf, fruit and yam vegetables produced by farmers in Cameron Highlands with local and Singapore markets.

He said, there are some fruit vegetables now selling at field prices exceeding RM5 a kilogram, including tomatoes, lime and lettuce as well as red and green Bengal pepper, red chili, eggplant and lychee.

He said tomato prices had broken over RM10 a kilogram earlier this year during the Chinese New Year, following reduced spending while demand was so high that supplies were insufficient.

“Every two days, we record the prices of 23 vegetables produced by growers in Cameron Highlands and the farm price will affect the retail price. Field prices are now more influenced by planters because they are the producers, however they still adhere to the regulations set by the government,” he said.

He added that the unpredictable weather has also affected the prices of highland and lowland vegetables. However, the supply of vegetables in this country is still sufficient and the prices are not high.

Saiful said that his office always encourages people to get involved in the agricultural sector and various facilities are provided by Kerajaan. FAMA contract farming participants also have the opportunity to get various facilities.

“We don’t want to see consumers continue to be burdened with the volatile prices of vegetables in this country, instead price controls are carried out by the authorities.

“To get vegetables at lower prices and fresher, users can go to farmers’ markets and the Jualan Terus Dari Ladang (JTDL) program recommended by FAMA,” he said.

Enough fish supplies

In Kuala Terengganu, local wet Malasyia fish prices in several markets across the country have shown a decline, despite some fishermen not going out to sea during Ramadan.

Local wet fish fell by between RM1 and RM2 a kilogram. However, there was a slight increase in the price of red fish and mackerel as supplies were sourced from overseas.

Selayang fish sold at RM14 and RM16 a kilo-gram, compared to between RM16 and RM18 before Ramadan.The price of mackerel also turned by RM2 a kilogram at RM22, compared to RM24 and RM28 before this.

Source: Fama.gov.my