Crops worth RM4.7 million damaged by floods in Terengganu

KUALA TERENGGANU : About 700 ha of crops were damaged by floods in Terengganu early this month, causing 856 farmers to lose about RM4.7 million, said State Agriculture Department director Md Yusof Maidin.

He said the crops affected were padi, vegetables, fruit trees and cash crops like corn, tapioca, mushroom and sweet potatoes as well as nurseries.

The Kemaman district suffered the biggest loss at RM4.1 million involving 532 farmers cultivating 317 ha of crops, he said when contacted today.

He said this was followed by Setiu with losses worth RM354,622 (166 farmers/ 375 ha), Dungun with RM200,000 in losses (81 farmers/ 23 ha), Hulu Terengganu with RM54,312 in losses (43 farmers/ 62 ha) and Marang with RM28,145 in losses (six farmers/ seven ha).

Cash crops incurred the biggest loss (RM1.9 million/ 128 ha) followed by vegetables (RM1.04 million / 84 ha), fruit (RM1.02 million /126 ha) and padi under the Northern Terengganu Integrated Agriculture Development Area (RM80,000/ 28 farmers), he added.

Md Yusof said the figures, which were gathered by district agriculture offices, would be submitted to the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry.