MIRI: The prices of most leafy vegetables here have increased by about 30 per cent due to the rainy weather and they are expected to rise further if the weather remains unfavourable.
GOOD DEMAND: The four categories of ‘midin’ at a stall operated jointly by (from left) Ainie, Durin Unjan, Suda Sembilan, Jemat Basih, Sima, Rua and Debah.
However, the rate of increase varies from one type of vegetable to another.
A random survey by thesundaypost in the city revealed that most leafy vegetables are expensive because of insufficient supply and the suppliers blame it on the current wet weather.
Lately, the supply of ‘sawi Hong Kong’ (choi sim), ‘sawi Taiwan’ (siaw pai choi), ‘kailan’, ‘sawi bunga’ and ‘sawi putih’ (pak choi) is not enough to meet demand.
A local vegetable vendor, Rua Gema, at a market at Emart Commercial Centre in Permyjaya, Tudan said ‘choi sim’ was getting costly with only two or three stalks per RM2 bundle compared to four or five stalks per bundle for the same price before the start of the wet season. Rua explained that vegetables take a longer time to mature during the wet season because the fertiliser tends to get washed away by the rain.
Moreover, she said the vegetables could rot easily when exposed to the wet, and the lack of sunshine also cause them to grow slowly.
“If the inclement weather persists, the prices could triple,” Rua said.
Meanwhile, the insufficient supply of leafy vegetables has increased the demand for wild vegetables, especially the ‘midin’.
This wild vegetable is a top choice of consumers, not only among locals but also visitors from Brunei, Sabah and the peninsula.
“The price is still RM2 a bundle or per heap, but the quantity is reduced because it is getting scarce,” said another vendor of wild vegetables, Ainie Likin.
She said the wet weather has made it difficult to collect the midin.
“We face many difficulties when searching for the midin. The places where they grow are water-logged after heavy rain,” she said.
The midin is popular because, firstly, it is pesticide-free, and secondly, it is sold fresh and make a delicious dish.