India: Tobacco E-auctions in Karnataka from Nov First Week

Source from:  Business Line  10/22/2012

Tobacco Board plans to introduce e-auctions in Karnataka from the first week of November. Speaking to tobacco growers at Kattemalawadi (Hunsur) near Mysore, G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, Chairman, Tobacco Board, said e-auctions will be introduced in the State in a phased manner at all the auction platforms. "The board will introduce e-auctions in the State after the Union Commerce Minister officially inaugurates in the first week of November," he added. mock auction Rao took part in the mock e-auction held at Hunsur and interacted with tobacco growers. Growers, who took part in the mock e-auctions, felt there were remarkable changes in the new system and urged the board and elected representatives that a mechanism to ensure fair and remunerative prices should be part of the new system. Later, the Tobacco Board chairman's interacted with growers and heard their grievances. At the tobacco growers meet, Member of Parliament, A.H. Vishwanath, Member of Legislative Assembly – B.P. Manjunath and K. Venkatesh and tobacco board officials were present. According to K.N. Vishakantaiah, Tobacco Board Regional Manager, growers from Mysore district discussed the cost of cultivation of the crop during the current season. At the meet, the Chairman apprised that cost of cultivation had gone up drastically due to prolonged drought. Enditem