BENTONG: Ninety pineapple farmers in Selangor, Pahang, Perak and Negri Sembilan have incurred losses estimated at RM5.4mil after their farms, totalling 49ha, were hit by floods.

       Malaysia Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM) chairman Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal said board members had taken the initiative to visit the farms to see for themselves the destruction caused by the floods and also to distribute aid to these farmers.

       “In Pahang alone, 39 farmers were affected by the floods and suffered losses of about RM1mil.

       “We are assessing the destruction to the farms and identifying the kinds of aid needed by them.

       “Besides basic necessities, other aid to be channelled through the LPNM Disaster Fund are agriculture inputs such as fungicide, pineapple seedlings and fertiliser, amounting to RM2,500 per hectare, with the aid for a maximum of four hectares,” he told Bernama after visiting the home and pineapple farm of Nazaruddin Abdul Jalil in Kampung Karak Setia, here, which was affected by the recent floods.

       Sahruddin said LPNM would also assist pineapple farmers whose houses were damaged by the floods through basic aid in the form of food and basic essentials under the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry’s Prihatin programme.

       “LPNM will update the information received from affected farmers to their farms, homes or both,” he said.

       Nazaruddin, 49, said he was thankful and touched by LPNM’s visit, as well as the handout of aid such as food, mats and a water jet to his family.

       The father of two, who has been growing pineapple the past four years, said the floods had destroyed 30% of his 0.4ha farm.

       “I also appreciate LPNM’s efforts to buy the pineapples of the MD2 variety, which are still in good condition to lessen my family’s burden,” he said.