Banana farmer loses RM150,000 to storm

BUTTERWORTH: Before Ng Yong Loh, 50, could harvest his banana crop, a freak storm last Friday tore through his farm, destroying half of his 4,000 trees and causing some RM150,000 in losses.
If not for the storm, Ng and his two friends, who share ownership of the 2.8ha plantation, would have harvested the fruits in another two months.
"The storm destroyed about 2,000 trees," he said when Penang agriculture and agro-based industries committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin visited the site today.
The storm on the evening of April 10 also caused traffic congestion in several areas, with flash floods and trees uprooted.
Afif said the state will extend assistance to help Ng and his partners.
He said this would include giving them banana shoots to replace trees which were destroyed and providing fertiliser.
"We hope this will lighten their burden," he added, while Permatang Pasir assemblyman Datuk Salleh Man said he would also be making a contribution.