Two weeks ago, the price of vegetables scaled to the highest point in the last 10 years, but it has dropped since then.
KUCHING: The high price of vegetables during ‘landas’ (rainy) season is a given, but there is something peculiar about it this year.
Over the last 10 years when rain poured from October to March, the price of locally-grown vegetables would go up for about a week only.
This year, however, the price has stayed high for more than a month now, and two weeks ago prices were highest in the last 10 years!
Vegetable vendor Tang Chiong Hung, 48, who has a stall at Bintawa Market, attributed the current situation to concurrent flooding at all major vegetable areas in the state.
“Previously, if Kuching was flooded, Sibu or Miri might not, or vice versa. However, for this rainy season, all places in Sarawak are affected.
“Hence, there is a spike in prices as we could not source for produce from other parts of the state to meet demand, unlike previously,” said Tan, who has been in this trade for 10 years, to The Borneo Post yesterday.
Some two weeks ago, ‘choy sum’ (mustard green) was sold for RM15 per kilogramme (kg), whereas its normal price is between RM3 and RM4 per kg. It now fetches between RM7 and RM8 per kg.
The locally-grown ‘kai lan’ (Chinese kale) was sold for RM15 per kg two weeks ago, whereas its normal price is between RM5 and RM6 per kg. It is now going for between RM7 and RM8 per kg.
Even ‘kangkung’ (water spinach) is not spared. It was sold for between RM7 and Rm8 per kg at its height, but price have since gone down to between RM4 and RM5 per kg.
Lady’s finger and winged bean still remain expensive, and some wet markets here sell them at RM10 per kg.
Meanwhile, a 58-year-old vegetable vendor at Petanak Market, who requested to be identified only as Wong, said when the price of vegetables went through the roof two weeks ago, local wholesalers were forced to import leafy vegetables from Cameron Highlands.
He said the price of imported vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, and carrot were comparatively low as they are in season, so some consumers opted to buy them to keep their budget in check.
Tang and Wong are unsure whether the price of green leafy vegetables would drop soon or whether there would be enough to meet demand for the forthcoming Chinese New Year.
“That remains to be seen. If the rain continues, the high price of vegetables may stay. But we doubt it would be as high as those two weeks ago. However, we do believe the price of vegetables will likely drop only after Chinese New Year,” said Wong.
On the reasons for the temporary closure of `Lui Cha” stalls in some coffee shops, Tang suspected that the closure could be due to the high price of leafy vegetables or herbs needed to make the dish.
“Lui Cha involves using many types of leafy vegetables and herbs. With their high prices, it is perhaps not profitable for them to run the business for now. That is why they prefer to close it for the time being, I believe,” said Tang.