PETALING JAYA: Consumers will have to pay more for vegetables and fruits as production fell by at least 50% this year, mainly due to the unpredictable weather pattern, say farmers.

       They also say the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, global inflation and workers’ shortage at home have pushed up operational costs in the last two years, making it hard for small farms to keep holding on.

       ‘’We have seen more rain over the last few months,” said Malaysia Federation of Vegetable Farmers’ Associations president Lim Ser Kwee.

       “The weather after Chinese New Year is usually warm, but not this year, and it has greatly affected our harvest and the quality,’’ he said, adding that the situation was compounded by many farmers having scaled down their operations since the pandemic.

       Lim said farmers were in dire straits as the price of fertilisers was still going up monthly with lower stock available.

       “The price of insecticides have also increased and we have not had enough farmhands for years.

       “That’s why many smaller farmers have quit while bigger ones slash variety and production.”

       For most leafy greens and other vegetables grown locally, Lim said the price would go up between 30% and 50%, a trend that started last year.

       “The situation will likely remain and worsen until we can finally hire more farmhands to increase production.

       “When we have enough workers on the farm, we can produce more to sell and subsequently bring down the prices,” he explained.

       Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Fruit Farmers’ Association deputy chairman Ken Lim Meng Hui agreed, saying that the fertiliser price used to be between RM1,200 and RM1,300 per tonne less than a year ago, and was now RM5,000 per tonne.

       “Prices for insecticides have also risen to 30%.

       “The sharp price hike was because of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the global inflation and the weakened ringgit against the US dollar.”

       Lim also said higher rainfall this year had affected the yield and quality of local fruits, as several incidents of flash floods earlier this year had destroyed some of the members’ farms.

       Malaysia Fruit Farmers Association deputy president Alvins Lo also raised similar concerns, adding that members nationwide had lamented the higher material costs of up to 25%.

       When asked, both Lim and Lo said the prices of fruits would not see much increase as farmers kept their prices stable.

       “Some fruits, like the dragon fruit, even saw a slight price drop due to the season, supply and demand,” said Lim, adding that consumers’ final price for fruits would differ after the players in the supply chain were factored in.

       Lo concurred, noting that the price increase differed geographically as fruits had different peak seasons throughout the year.

       “Also, when the weather pattern becomes colder or unpredictable, people tend to consume fewer fruits,” he added.

       Lim said the association had encouraged its members to replace fertiliser with compost to keep costs low and as a more environmentally friendly measure.

       “We also encourage automation such as the use of machines or drones. However, it requires high costs and takes time for farmers to transform, especially when we have other concerns to deal with,” he said.

       Both Lim and Lo urged the government to look after the needs of farmers and provide them with some rebates or incentives for fertilisers for their efforts in maintaining the country’s food security.