Growers Ready to Switch And Quit - But at A Price

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 09/23/2011

Most tobacco growers in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh would be willing to switch to alternative crops if India's union government paid them adequate compensation, according to a Business Line story. This was the message given by the chairman of the Tobacco Board of India, G. Kamalavardhana Rao, at the conclusion of a two-day conference in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, which was held earlier this week to investigate, "Alternative crops to flue cured Virginia tobacco". Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are India's two main producers of flue-cured tobacco. The questions surrounding alternative crops and compensation have been aired for some time; partly and unsuccessfully because of India's obligations under the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; but partly and successfully in order to push up farmer prices. As always, the devil is in the detail - what is adequate compensation and who makes that decision? Enditem