Rain pushes prices of greens up

Kuching (Jan 6, 2012): Torrential rain over the last few weeks have pushed the prices of vegetables sold at the Stutong wholesale vegetable and fruit market, substantially.

Many of the vegetable growing areas in Serian, Tapah, Siburan and Beratok, are flooded after heavy rain, destroying the vegetables.

"Those which we sell here are from higher grounds," said a Sino-Bidayuh farmer who sells his vegetables at the Stutong wholesale market.

Stutong wholesale market is where vegetable middlemen and vegetable farmers come during evening to wholesale their products, mostly to vegetable vendors at wet markets in Kuching.

Citing an example, a small-leaf bayam is now sold at RM15 a kilogramme as against RM2 three weeks ago while brinjal is sold at RM5 per kg (RM2 previously) and long bean is offered at RM6 per kg (RM2.5 previously).

Even kangkong, which thrives well in wet condition, is sold at RM4 per kg (up from RM1.80).-Sematong Express