Camerons veggie supply back to normal but demand is down, says group

The Cameron Highlands Vegetable Growers Association says farmers can usually harvest about 800 tonnes each day, but that output has dipped to 500 tonnes now.

PETALING JAYA: The Cameron Highlands Vegetable Growers Association says supply from the district is back to normal but demand has dropped as wholesalers reduce their workforce while markets close for sanitation.

The group’s secretary Chay Ee Mong said farmers could harvest about 800 tonnes each day, but that output had dipped to 500 tonnes now.

“Wholesalers are placing fewer orders as they can only employ two workers instead of five to eight.

“Some of the wholesale markets are only open for limited hours as they are being sanitised to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus,” he told FMT.

It was reported last week that farmers had been forced to dump their produce due to difficulties in securing transport services to move the greens to other states.

Chay said that problem had been resolved. However, he said demand had shrunk as morning and even open markets and restaurants nationwide had closed in the wake of the government’s movement control order (MCO).

The MCO, which took effect on March 18, was originally supposed to end on March 31. However, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin last week extended it to April 14. - FMT