THE Defence Ministry has rolled out a battle plan to help the people and businesses affected by a plume of red dye released 10 days ago from Tengah Air Base.

The Ministry of Defence said yesterday that it is working out a 'compensation package' for the farmers who have been forced to destroy their vegetables, which were stained by tiny red droplets.

The spots were traced to a dye which was used in a test to create more visually striking red smoke for the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) Black Knights aerobatics team, which is preparing for next year's inaugural Singapore Air Show.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has given an assurance that, while the 200 tonnes of leafy greens being junked are enough to fill some 10 lorries, it expects no impact on food prices.

This is because the amount being destroyed adds up to 'less than 1 per cent of the 350,000 tonnes of vegetables consumed' by Singaporeans in a year.

A farmer who was affected by the dye, Mr Wong Koh Fah, 45, said he is still tallying his losses.

'We'll plant again. I felt reassured when Mindef officers visited my farm to see how they could help,' he said.

Talk of a cash payout comes amid continuing efforts to uproot and destroy crops such as kai lan, kang kong and cabbage at the six affected farms in the Lorong Semangka area in Sungei Tengah.

The AVA said that workers began clearing vegetable plots last Saturday and work should be completed tomorrow.

For the complete report, read today's edition of The Straits Times