Tobacco Growers Stick to the Leaf Despite Curbs, Seek Govt Backing

Source from:  KVVV CHARYA Monday, March 13, 2006 at 0000 hours IST  03/13/2006

Notwithstanding the efforts by NGOs and governmental agencies, the tobacco farmers are not ready to leave the much lucrative tobacco farming. According to BV Javaregowda, Member Tobacco Board, the government has to withdraw the penalty of 15% on the additional crop over and above the allowed crop. He also wanted the government to encourage the tobacco farmers, by way of extending credit and modernisation of farming activity. "Tobacco is the major revenue earner and its growers must be treated equally with other farmers," Mr Javaregowda said. On the other hand the Tobacco Institute of India director Udayan Lall felt that it would be difficult to totally stop tobacco farming at once. "It is better to impart new techniques to the farmers and equip them to grow higher quality leaf," he said. He further called for farmer friendly policies and non discriminate tax polices. A tobacco farmer from Ongole, K Srinivas Rao reasons that only tobacco has assured access to the market through the board. If the government could ensure similar marketing facility for other crops, the farmers might try a way out. Besides, the farmers are not able to leave the tobacco farming as they have invested in establishing barn required for curing the leaf. "If government can compensate to this cost, most of the farmers may decide to switch over to other crops," M Sayta Reddy, another tobacco farmer, said. Enditem