Govt Hands Out RM5.69 Mil to Aid Flood-Hit Tobacco Planters

Source from:  Bernama 01/19/2010

About 3,500 tobacco growers in Kelantan and Terengganu, who lost RM44.59 million worth of crops in floods last year, will receive financial aid from the Federal Government. National Tobacco Board director-general Ahmad Loman said 3,300 growers from Kelantan lost RM38 million while another 231 from Terengganu were also hit. Bachok and Besut were the worst affected areas in the floods at the end of last year, he told reporters after receiving a RM5.69 million financial grant for the affected farmers from Kelantan National Security Council secretary Mohamad Rosle Mamat here today. Ahmad said 2,864ha of tobacco plantations in both states were inundated, of which 2,628ha was in Kelantan. He said the tobacco growers would receive between RM1,600 and RM2,000 for each hectare. Mohamad Rosle said the financial aid, which was in line with the 1 Malaysia concept, was aimed at easing the burden of affected farmers and to assist them in replanting tobacco. Enditem