Vege traders feel pinch of price hike

GEORGE TOWN: Vegetable sellers in Penang are caught in a Catch-22 situation where low supply of vegetables has caused prices to go up, resulting in fewer customers and a drop in their income.
They are blaming the situation on the recent crackdown on illegal immigrants in Cameron Highlands, Pahang, and the recent deadly mud floods there.
Lim Kin Tong, 65, said farmers in Cameron Highlands faced difficulty in harvesting their produce due to a shortage of manpower.
He said this resulted in a short supply of tomatoes, cabbage, okra (ladies fingers) and chillies.
He said price increases for vegetables are inevitable due to the low supply, citing tomatoes, which had risen by 50 sen recently to RM4 per kilogramme.
He said he is feeling the impact of low supply and price increases.
"Business has slowed, leading to a drop in income.
"I hope something can be done soon," he told theSun when met at the Chowrasta market today.
Echoing Lim's sentiment was Koe Swee Hin, 68, who said the low supply of vegetables from Camerons was hitting him hard.
He pointed out that most of the vegetables sold in Penang wet markets were from Cameron Highlands and any disruption there would affect them here.
"The authorities have to address this issue before it is too late," he stressed.
Meanwhile, a vegetable seller who wished to be identified only as Hussain, 29, said he had suffered a drop in income due to the supply shortfall and price increase.
He said he managed to make an average of about RM700 per month previously but earned about RM300 now and urged those responsible to take steps to rectify the situation.
The crackdown came after flash floods and landslides killed several people and damaged farms at the highland farmsteads and popular hill resort.
Authorities have blamed illegal earth clearing works and agriculture activities for the deadly incident on Nov 5.