Vigilance bodies to supervise tobacco marketing operations

Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) has constituted vigilance committees, comprising of representatives of PTB, provincial agricultural department, tobacco growers and tobacco companies to supervise tobacco marketing operations at the purchase depots of tobacco companies. The vigilance committees would also help settle disputes between growers and tobacco buyers to the satisfaction of both parties. The board is also arranging training courses for the vigilance committees in various tobaccos growing areas.
In this connection, a meeting was held at PTB's Research Station, Khan Garhi, and Mardan to discuss and chalk-out training programmes for members of the vigilance committees in NWFP during tobacco marketing season-2005. Khan Faraz, Secretary, PTB presided over the meeting and senior executives of the tobacco companies attended.
The objectives of the training courses are emphasis on low topping and de-suckering, picking of mature leaf with special attention on proper curing and prolong yielding stage and use of hygrometers. Training in leaf grading, baling of FCV and WP tobacco with special emphasis on quality aspects, correct grading, efforts of minimising dust contents through use of polythene/formation, education of growers in tobacco thrashing.
The members of the committees would also be training for explaining the concept of rejection at the buying courts, explaining moral obligations dischargeable by the growers' members of vigilance committees. Explaining obligations dischargeable by the tobacco companies and growers as per provisions of agreement form. Explaining constitution and functions of the vigilance committees as per provision of law, collection of spilled over leaves at the purchase depots and barn specifications.
The training courses would be arranged at Charbagh & Yar Hussain (Swabi), Shergarh (Mardan), Sardheri (Charsadda), Swari (Buner), Tindodag (Swat) and Mansehra.
The speakers of the training courses will include senior officials of Pakistan tobacco board and leaf experts of tobacco companies. Such training programmes arranged in past have been greatly helpful in smooth and orderly conduct of tobacco marketing.-PR