SINGAPORE - The six vegetable farmers in Lorong Semangka area whose crops were tainted by red dye from an F-16C jet at Tengah Air Base received cash payout totalling $370,000 from the Defence Ministry as compensation.

Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean, in his written reply to a question from Ms Ellen Lee Geck Hoon (MP Sembawang GRC) on Monday, said Mindef acted quickly to help the farmers who had to destroy 200 tonnes - about 10 lorry loads - of leafy vegetables last December as a precautionary measure because the dye was not approved by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) for use in food.

He said of the total payout, $332,000, was to compensate the farmers.

The minister said the incident happened on Nov 23 during a ground trial of a stationary aircraft to improve the quality of the red smoke used to enhance the visual effects of the Black Knights aerobatics display.

Prevailing strong winds carried the residual red smoke beyond the confines of the trial area in Tengah Air Base, and some of the residual red dye settled onto the vegetable farms in the vicinity.

Mr Teo said the compensation to the farm owners was worked out in consultation with AVA.