A stallholder arranges produce at his stall. The price of leafy greens is expected to continue to increase.
SIBU: The price of leafy greens here has risen by some 20 per cent as farmers are hard hit by incessant rain and flooding.
Another round of hikes is expected in a week’s time.
A farmer with the surname Kong said vegetable farms in Sungai Bidut, which supply 80 per cent of the town’s leafy greens, have been hard hit by the recent flooding and inclement weather.
“All greens cost more now as supply dwindled amidst increased demand, more so with the Lunar New Year just weeks away.
“The flood affected our production and it is difficult to grow vegetables during wet spells. Fertiliser is swiftly washed away by rainwater as soon as it is applied to the crops,” he explained yesterday.
He believes the losses suffered by farmers this time round are more serious compared to previous years, adding that his own farm was submerged for two days.
Kong pointed out that vegetables would rot away when inundated in murky flood waters even for a day.
He said although flooding had subsided, they still needed to clean up before they could replant.
Meanwhile, the price of chilli has dropped to between RM7 and RM8 per kg.
“There is ample supply of chilli from Sarikei,” added Kong.