TUMPAT, Dec 18- The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) expects vegetable prices to stabilize by March 2025 after the Northeast Monsoon (MTL) ends.

Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said unpredictable weather conditions have resulted in a decrease in vegetable supply, leading to a fourfold increase in prices.

According to him, the situation is common whenever the MTL hits.

"Every monsoon season, this issue arises. We will address this issue by collaborating with the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) to ensure price stability. Typically, this situation does not persist for a long time," he said this to reporters at the Bunga Raya Area Farmers Organisation, here today.

Earlier, he distributed Phase 2 of the special cash assistance (BKST) to 10,628 padi farmers in Kelantan affected by this year’s floods, amounting to RM6.3 million.

Earlier media reports said vegetable production in the Lojing highlands had dropped by 40 percent because of the non-stop rain since last month.

At the same time, the cold temperatures, reaching as low as 7 degrees Celsius at night and 19 degrees Celsius during the day, have also hindered and damaged vegetable crops.

That situation was the primary cause of the increased vegetable prices in the market.