Azlan Othman

Recent monsoon rains have affected the supply of green leafy vegetables, causing a price spike for some types.

One farmer said the price of bok choi rose by BND1.50, blaming heavy rains which have affected the supply and quality of the vegetables.

“The demand is high at present, as the vegetables are in short supply at supermarkets. It used to be BND4.50 per kilo, but now it has shot up to BND6 per kilo,” he said.

Meanwhile, a supermarket vendor said that there has been no supply of sawi (mustard greens) for a while.

Brunei’s annual monsoon season continues unabated and some areas are facing the brunt, with rising flood waters affecting crops in the country.

Vendors say that wet markets are more likely than supermarkets to be affected by the rains, as they rely on a single or limited pool of supplies, with price fluctuations due to bad weather occurring every year.

One entrepreneur said that some families have opted to grow vegetables in their own backyards, amid viral reports of farms being submerged underwater in the rainy season.

“It’s been a quiet period for retail business these days, as Bruneians take advantage of the holiday season to cross the border to Kota Kinabalu or Miri, or fly off to regional countries. But vegetables are still sold at cheaper prices in this country and there has not been obvious increase,” he said.

The Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department (BDMD) recently said that the Sultanate is now in the first month of the Northeast Monsoon, which would normally be expected to receive a high amount of rainfall.

Unsettled weather conditions are expected this month, with occasional heavy showers or thundershowers, especially during the night and early morning.