Tadepalli, June 18 (Hydnow): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy addressed the tobacco board review meeting focusing on farmer-trader issues at the Tadepalli camp office today.
In the meeting Officials listed out challenge being faced due to COVID-19 and farmers present in the meeting shared about impact of the lockdown on tobacco business.
Chief Minister was informed about how a sum of 20 million kg of low and medium grade varieties of tobacco, which accounted for a majority of the produce, has been rejected by the traders this year.
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Representatives of farmers were also present at the meeting where they addressed the issues they have been facing during the lockdown period. Some of the instances that the farmers explained to the Chief Minister were that they were asked to harvest the crops and when it was ready to be sold, it was not reaching the auction centers.
They also mentioned about how the prices have been better before the COVID outbreak but now are under huge loses. They mentioned about how companies registered for these these tobacco purchases do not participate in the auction Understanding the uncertainty in the Tobacco business, Chief Minister directed officials that the Government will intervene to help distressed tobacco farmers in purchases.
In 2-3 days a special committee will be formed which will be headed by a IAS officer to solve Tobacco farmers challenges and government will fix minimum sale prices for High, medium and low quality tobacco. List of rates approved by the government will be available at the purchasing centers during the auction.
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It will be must for the licensed traders and companies to attend during the auction process for stock purchase or else their license will be cancelled. During the Tobacco review meeting not only the farmer’s representatives but tobacco trader companies were also present.
Also the Chief Minister stressed to bring-in a feasible systematic methodology to be practiced by all departments for maintaining more transparency in the process. Chief Minister said that the board and the companies should work together in an organized style of functioning and fix a minimum rate to be laid for all the 3 qualities of tobacco for selling. Purchases should be made in accordance to the state prices, if not the licenses will be revoked.
The review meeting was attended by Agricultural minister Kurasala Kannababu, Education Minister Adimulapu Suresh, Minister for Energy, forest & environment, science & technology Balineni Srinivas Reddy, TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy and other officials along with representatives of the trading companies and farmers . (Hydnow)