Cameron Highlands Malay Farmers Association chairman Syed Abd Rahman Syed Abd Rashid said cabbage now retails at RM1.50 per kg compared with 60 sen previously, Berita Harian reported.

Tomatoes, he said, are now going for RM3.50 per kg, compared with RM1, while chilli has increased to RM5, up from RM4 per kg previously.

“This hike is due to the higher cost of production with the increase in the price of fertilisers and pesticides from overseas,” he was quoted as saying.

Syed Abd Rahman said fertilisers previously cost between RM7,000 to RM8,000 per tonne, but now it retails between RM25,000 to RM27,000 per tonne.

“The Middle East conflict has also affected global oil prices, and increased international transportation costs to bring in these materials for our farms,” he added.

He expects prices to continue rising over the next two weeks before stabilising or declining, depending on the market and the government’s import-control measures.

Syed Abd Rahman said vegetable production in Cameron Highlands was also affected by unpredictable weather, leading to a decrease in market supply.

“Now the weather has begun to improve. As farmers, we hope the prices do not drop too low, that is, below the cost of production.”

Earlier this month, agriculture and food security minister Mohamad Sabu said food prices will likely increase in the second half of the year because of rising costs of fertilisers, livestock feed and logistics amid the global energy crisis.