Tobacco growers in Bachok were reported to have lost MYR 23 million (EUR 4.83 million) following a three-day flash flood which inundated 1,500 hectares of tobacco crops last week.

State National Tobacco Board (LTN) assistant director Razali Harun said the amount did not include all the affected areas in the state, including in Pasir Puteh. “The figure was obtained from results of a study conducted by LTN's Crop Monitoring and Production Committee which had a meeting on 8 March. The loss includes costs involving the farmer's earnings, labour and input materials,” he said.
Razali said the damaged tobacco plantations affected 1,968 farmers who constituted part of a programme for tobacco farmers. He said according to the study the projected loss suffered by the LTN would be MYR 5,800 for every hectare due to the recent flash floods, with a total loss of MYR 8.7 million.