The ongoing hot spell in Malaysia has taken a toll on the local produce - and falling supplies have led to rising prices, vegetable sellers at the country's capital say.
Tomatoes, chillies, French beans and cabbages produced in Malaysia's Cameron Highlands have seen their prices gone up by more than 20 per cent, partly because of the current heatwave, according to vegetable sellers at a neighbourhood wet market on Tuesday (Apr 5).
"It's not 10 to 20 per cent; it's 50 per cent," said K Kanesan, a vegetable seller. "If the hot weather continues for another 2 to 3 months, it'll be very, very bad."
The hot spell has also reduced the quality of vegetables as well as fruits in the market. Many have complained that the produce is not as good as before, particularly pomelos and papayas produced locally - they are smaller and not as sweet, the consumers said.
Farmers and traders have voiced their hopes that the authorities will help ease their plight by launching measures to solve the water shortage, such as cloud-seeding and improving the irrigation network.
