The imbalance between supply and demand has been identified as one of the factors contributing to the recent rise in prices of vegetables and essential items.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad said weather and climate change also affected production.
He said during discussions with vegetable farmers in both the highlands and lowlands, they acknowledged that they were experiencing climate change issues.
"In the past, they could predict the dry season and plant certain crops. But now, the uncertain rainy weather has destroyed vegetables and left crops vulnerable to disease.
"This has led to lower output, which coincided with the resumption of economic activities.
"During the Movement Control Order, demand largely came from households. But now, restaurants, pasar malam, farmers' markets, social events and cross-border movement, including the resumption of tourism, all affect the supply of and demand for vegetables."
Hasnol was speaking after touring the Negri Sembilan-level Program Jualan Keluarga Malaysia at Pasar Tani Taman Paroi Jaya here yesterday.
Also present was the ministry's state director, Ain Arjuna Aziz Zaman.
The recent rise in food prices has drawn the ire of consumers as well as members of parliament, who urged the authorities to take immediate action.
Hasnol said there was no denying that agricultural input, such as fertiliser components, which were imported at high prices, had also affected vegetable prices.
"We (the government) cannot control the price of agricultural input. So there is a need to increase the use of organic fertiliser in the long run.
"This can reduce our dependency on imported components in the production of vegetables and food in the country."
He said the ministry was confident the problem was temporary and that price hikes would end as soon as the monsoon season ended in March.
On Program Jualan Keluarga Malaysia, Hasnol said it offered consumers a wide variety of essential items, such as chicken, fish, eggs, vegetables, cooking oil, sugar, flour, rice and processed items, at up to 20 per cent lower than market rates.
"(The programme) will be held in selected locations in Seremban. Hopefully, this will encourage people to plan their purchases better to reduce household expenses."