DAMMAM: The cold wave in many parts of the Kingdom over the last week caused a decline of between 30 percent and 50 percent in farm production. This decline in turn drove prices of agricultural products at wholesale markets up by 30 percent.

Farmers said the cold wave and frost over the past few days exceed that of previous years. Production levels will return to normal levels when temperatures rise, they said.

Ali Marzouq, an investor in agricultural products, estimated the decline in production to be more than 40 percent for almost all agricultural products in most farms in the Eastern Province.

He said the decline in supply to markets during the past few days had in turn contributed to higher prices, but stressed that the current prices would not continue and would return to normal with the resumption of agricultural production levels.

He noted that the current period represents the height of agricultural production season in the Eastern Province.

Another investor, Hussein Al-Hamoud, said the production of squash (an edible gourd) had declined by 50 percent since the end of last week.

There were no more than 4,000 boxes in the markets as opposed to 8,000 the week before. Prices also increased by more than 100 percent to settle at SR7, as opposed to SR3 for a 5kg box in wholesale markets.

He said the production of peppers also declined by 30 percent to 10,000 boxes, as opposed to 15,000 boxes before, with prices increasing by 30 percent from SR7 for a 5kg box to SR9.

Quantities of cucumbers also fell by 50 percent, with prices increasing from SR3 to SR10 per 2.5kg box, while pumpkin production fell 30 percent from 3,000 boxes to 1,000 boxes. Prices doubled from SR12 per 5kg box to SR25 per box.