KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 — Two farmers’ associations have warned Malaysians to expect more expensive fruits and vegetables soon, as the West Asia conflict pushes up the cost of fertilisers and diesel.
Cameron Highlands Malay Farmers Association chairman Syed Abd Rahman Syed Abd Rashidtold Berita Harian yesterday that vegetable prices are expected to surge in a week or two by 50 per cent “for a short period”, before stabilising at a 30 per cent increase.
He cited rising production costs, including fertiliser for crops and diesel needed to operate tractors, generators, and transport.
Meanwhile, the prices of fruit in Malaysia are expected to increase by 20 per cent or more within the next three to six months due to the Iran conflict.
Federation of Malaysia Fruit Farmers Association (FMFFA) president Koh Lai Ann told Sin Chew Daily yesterday that shipping disruptions have forced farmers to buy more expensive chemical fertilisers for fruit cultivation.
He noted that the Middle East is a key production hub and transit point for fertiliser raw materials and that some Malaysian fertiliser suppliers have suspended new orders since the middle of March, after raw material prices surged by 100 per cent to 150 per cent in a fortnight.
Malaysian fruit farmers, he reportedly warned, may face a situation of no fertilisers if shipments continued to be hindered by the Persian Gulf conflict.
“Even with money, fertiliser cannot be purchased,” Koh was quoted as saying.
Delays in fertiliser supply will directly disrupt fertilisation schedules that are critical in fruit production, causing poor fruit development, higher fruit drop rates, and weakened trees due to insufficient nutrients.
“This will not only reduce yields in the next season by an estimated 15 per cent to 20 per cent, but may also affect the long-term productivity of fruit trees.”
Fertilisers account for 30 per cent to 50 per cent of production costs. Rising fuel prices pushing up logistic costs will see overall production costs to surge by at least 30 per cent, FMFFA told Sin Chew Daily.
According to the farmers’ group, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) held an emergency consultation meeting with major fertiliser supplier associations, industry representatives, and state agriculture officials before Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
“The association highlighted the sharp increase in fertiliser and diesel costs, as well as the severe squeeze on profit margins.”
Asean countries, including Malaysia, face a double-whammy impact from the Persian Gulf conflict: fertiliser import disruptions and LNG trade disruptions affecting fertiliser production. According to Singaporean think tank S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), domestic fertiliser production can only meet 39 per cent of Malaysia’s annual fertiliser use.
KPKM has yet to issue a statement on the country’s fertiliser situation.
Even before the Iran war, Malaysia’s healthy plate model “Suku-Suku Separuh”, which comprises half fruits and vegetables, a quarter protein, and a quarter carbohydrates, was already found to be unaffordable for most Malaysian families.
A survey by the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) showed that eating two such healthy plates cost 46 per cent of national household income.
