MORE THAN 20,000 TOBACCO GROWERS TO RECEIVE AID IN EXCESS OF RM6 MILLION

KOTA BHARU (Malaysia), Sept 10 (Bernama) -- A total of 21,282 tobacco
growers from seven states in Peninsular Malaysia will receive aid totaling more than RM6million and this will also help with their forthcoming celebrations to mark the end of fasting month (Ramadan).

National Tobacco Board (NTB) public relations officer Mohd Norsyam Yahaya
said each grower will get RM300 beginning Oct 15 and ending Sept 15.

"The aid is under the programme to help and encourage tobacco farmers to
integrate other crops with tobacco," he said when contacted here
Tuesday.

Norsyam said northeastern state of Kelantan had the highest number of
farmers who would get aid at 12,351 growers, followed by east coast state of
Terengganu (2,910), northern states of Perlis (2,405) and Kedah (1,825),
southern state of Melaka (873), east coast state of Pahang (751) and northern
state of Perak (167).

He said the farmers can get their cheques at the NTB offices in their
respective areas by representing their identity cards.
(US$1=RM3.46)
-- BERNAMA