GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) has advised Malaysian consumers to grow their own vegetables to reduce the burden of vegetable price increases.
The prices of greens have been increasing in recent days and expected to last for quite a while.
CAP education officer N.V. Subbarow said the Vegetable Sellers Association had pointed out that this condition (price increase) may continue until Chinese New Year.
"As such, we are urging consumers to easily grow their own vegetables at home, which can be cost effective," he said today, adding that planting edible greens did not require a big space.
He said fruiting plants like okra, brinjal, chillies and leafy vegetables like sawi, kangkong, kalian, bayam as well as perennial plants mint, pegaga, kesum and selom could be easily grown, even on a balcony.
He added that commonly-used household items such as milk cartons, juice and drinking bottles, and other small containers could be used for plants which have smaller root systems like leafy vegetables.
For plants with deeper roots like okra, brinjal, chilly, items such as biscuit tins, five-litre oil cans and five to 20-litre water bottles could be used as growing containers.
"With proper sunlight, water and compost, anyone can grow and harvest vegetables even in small places.
"CAP conducts regular urban garden training for those who are interested to learn, especially homemakers, to grow their own vegetables at home. CAP also produces vermi-fertiliser, plant growth promoters and enriched soil at an affordable and reasonable price for those who want to start gardening.
"Simple home gardening and pest management guides for new learners are also available for sale at the CAP office. Start your own home garden and it will be worth the effort as it will benefit the entire family to enjoy fresh and chemical-free vegetables," he added.
For those living in high-rise residential buildings with limited space, Subarow said they could practise urban gardening effectively as long as they ensure their plants get some sunlight.
Late last month, CAP urged the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) to take immediate steps to reduce the prices of vegetables which had shot up in recent days.
This followed checks which showed that the prices of some vegetables had increased by up to 200 per cent in the past two weeks.
Several retailers even complained that distributors and wholesalers had warned them that the prices of other vegetables may go up in the coming weeks.