Fertilisers and rainfall patterns to blame for pomelo price increases
IPOH: Pomelos sales have dropped due to the rising cost of fertilisers, and recent rainfall patterns.
Tambun Pomelo Growers Association chairman Chin Too Kam said the volume of sales had dropped by 30%.
"A 50kg bag of fertiliser which cost RM80 has shot up to RM180.
"On top of it, the rain drops are dirty which affects the flowers which cannot bloom," he told theSun here today.
According to him, three days of continuous rain will badly affect the crops.
"In the past, farmers could sell 200 to 300 fruits in a season, but now it has dwindled down to between 50 and 80.
"People are also buying less fruits and the situation is likely to be the same for the mooncake festival prayers," he added.
Meanwhile, a pomelo farmer from Tambun, Tun Wah Keong, 58, echoed Chin's view that rainfall had affected the growth of crops.
"The downfall earlier had caused the flowers to drop off.... however the fruits are still available, especially for the mooncake festival.
"Prices have increased slightly and the public are cautious with their purchases," he added.
Wholesaler, Tang Kooi Chong, 53, said prices have remained stable despite the productions costs.
"The long rainy season had a negative effect... demand is always high during Chinese New Year and the mooncake festival," he added.
The fruits from here are also sent to Johor Baru, Kuala Lumpur and Penang.