Tobacco planters, especially those in the districts of Bachok and Pasir Puteh in Kelantan, should not continue to depend on the crop after the Asean Free Trade Agreement (Afta) comes into effect starting Jan 1 next year.

International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed said the government would not encourage planters to continue after that and instead was working on the introduction of alternative crops.

"This is because the production cost is too high compared to neighbouring countries," he told reporters during the Pasir Puteh parliamentary constituency Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.

Over 500 people including those of Chinese and Siamese descent participated in the celebrations, which was also attended by the Pasir Puteh Umno division chief Zawawi Othman.

Difficult for planters to compete

Mustapa, who is also the Kelantan Umno liaison chief, said the tobacco planters voiced their concern over the government's move, as tobacco-planting had been their source of income for the past 50 years.

tobacco farmers 190505 He said the higher production cost would make it difficult for them to compete with those from neighbouring countries who produced at a lower cost.

"Anyway, tobacco is hazardous to our health and is prohibited by the religion," he said.

He said the government had helped the planters to move out of the industry in many ways including approving an allocation of RM5,000 to each planter over the past two years.

He said it was hoped that the aid would be incentive for them to venture into other fields such as breeding livestock or planting kenaf or sweet potatoes.

- Bernama