KUALA LUMPUR: The global price increase of fertilisers and pesticides are among reasons behind the recent skyrocketing price of vegetables in the country.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said they were told of the matter during an engagement session between his ministry, the Agriculture and Food Industry; and the Finance Ministries yesterday.
"During the meeting, among the issues discussed was the rising food prices, especially the prices of chicken and vegetables, which have shot up in recent days.
"The meeting was told that among the factors behind the increase in vegetable prices in the local market was related to the increase in prices of fertilisers and pesticides globally.
"Therefore, several action plans are being drawn up involving the three ministries and I hope these can be implemented as soon as possible to help the severely affected consumers and traders," he said in a Facebook post, adding that the meeting was led by Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and also attended by Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee.
Recently, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) urged the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) to take immediate steps to reduce the prices of vegetables which have shot up in recent days.
CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader said checks showed that the prices of some vegetables had increased by up to 200 per cent in the past two weeks.
As an example, the price of sawi pendek (choy sum) increased from RM3 per kg to RM9 per kg, which is a hike of 200 per cent.