Indonesia cause Malaysian to lose million of Ringgits due to haze

The haze from Indonesia has caused Malaysians   lose  Millions of Ringgits in agricultural products besides other adverse effetcs. The haze problem is a yearly affair, the Indonesians are not SERIOUS in controlling it. Almost FIVE years neighboring countries suffers haze problems. It has been reported  that The Star Online, Penang and Province Wellesley Farmers Association chairman Loo Choo Gee said, “Chickens are more sensitive to the haze than humans. They have respiratory problems and become weak. We have to give them vitamins. When they are weak, they are slow to grow and that is not good.”

He said the haze period inevitably meant that the price of chicken would increase by 10 sen to 20 sen per kilo and added that even hens laid less eggs.

Meanwhile Lew Kim Huat of Lew Brothers Poultry Farm Sdn Bhd in Johor said their hens had become “restless and weak” and were laying five per cent less eggs now.

In Kota Tinggi, the price of long beans has almost doubled from RM2-3 per kg to the current RM6 during the haze period, with wholesaler, Tan Pak Looi, cautioning that chillies, now at RM6 per kg as well, was likely to see a further increase in price in the coming months.

Tan explained that the lack of sunlight due to the haze coupled by the shortage in rainfall were badly affecting his crops.

Penang Island Vegetable Wholesalers Association chairman Tan Ban Ben said, “The weather has also affected the production of spring onions and celery which have doubled in price.” Spring onions that cost between RM5 and RM6 two weeks ago, now cost RM12.

Supplier V Raj in George Town said the wholesale prices of Cameron Highlands vegetables had doubled and explained, “Profits have also been cut by at least 20%.

“Chinese broccoli (kai-lan) increased from RM2.50 to RM5 while Chinese cabbage also rose to RM2.50 from RM1.20 and tomatoes from RM4 to RM6.”

Cameron Highlands farmer Khor Tiam Seng, said vegetable output had dropped by between 10 per cent to 20 per cent.

“I had to increase my prices in order to maintain profit. And it is the customers who will have to pay more.”