I remember the first oil crisis in the early 1970s when inflation started to escalate out of control. That was the time I first heard of a university lecturer asking the urban dwellers to plant their own vegetables to help contain the effect of high inflation. That lecturer did not achieve much subsequently in his career.

Since then I have never failed to hear the same proposal (or a slight variation of it) each time when prices went out of control. The latest was Minister Noh Omar asking flat dwellers to plant their own chilli and other vegetables to reduce their household bills. Surprisingly, the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister, Ahmad Shabery Cheek, has agreed to discuss the proposal put forth in greater details.

What could be more pathetic than two full cabinet ministers talking about planting a chilli plant in each of the low-cost flats to reduce the high cost of living in the country? Seriously, have they got any idea at all how an economy and its high cost of living are managed? I tell you, it is almost comical.

First, these flat dwellers have to go around scouting for pots on their motorcycles. Then they need to buy soils, fertilisers and pesticides. Trust me on this, chilli and all other vegetables are very susceptible to pests, thanks to our hapless quarantine department. The cost would add up making the chilli and other vegetables much more expensive than they can get it from ‘pasar tani’ or ‘pasar malam’.

For the ministers’ information, high cost of living is the ‘sum total’ of the way we manage our economy - monetary policy, cost efficiency, economies of scale, market efficiency, transportation, distribution and wage level. Flat-dwellers working in manufacturing and services can’t produce chilli and vegetables at lower cost than they can get from pasar tani.

Planting chilli and other vegetables can’t substantially make a difference to their food bills. On the contrary, whatever they produce would cost more.

If you are planting vegetables and fruits as a hobby like I do, that is a separate issue altogether. My objective is to enjoy a hobby, producing something with my own hands, but definitely not aimed at reducing cost of living.

I heard Minister Noh Omar drove a taxi before, but have they both planted chilli and vegetables before in their homes? Try this out, it will definitely cost more than you buy from the market.

Instead of indulging in thoughtless ideas, I think the two ministers should seriously look at how large-scale commercial farming could be effected throughout the country, not just as a new source of growth, employment and entrepreneurship, but also as a means to flood the market with fruits and vegetables.

For everything we do, please think efficiency, cost, division of labour, and economies of scale. Otherwise it is ‘shiok sendiri’ economics.