Tobacco growers demanded of the government to fix rates of tobacco at Rs 250 per kg and expressed grave concern over the growing manipulation of multi-national companies. The tobacco farmers said that the government should take steps for ending of the growing manipulation of foreign companies in order to get high prices.
Owing to absence of adequate tobacco policy, they said, the international companies are exploiting the rights of the farmers in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The farmers expressed these reservations during a joint protest demonstration led by President of Farmers Coordination Council (FCC), Mohammad Azam Khan, President Anjuman-e-Kashtkaraan, Alam Sher Gohatti, Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Agriculture (PCA) Mohammad Dagi Wala and Kisan Board Rizwanullah here outside the Peshawar Press Club on Thursday.
The protesting farmers were holding placards and banners inscribed slogans in favour of their demands and against Pakistan Tobacco Board ({PTB) The farmers further said that the tobacco was contributing a hefty of Rs 61 billion as revenue in the national exchequer despite fact that government failed to provide any relief to the growers. They said that the tobacco companies aren't fulfilling their commitment to provide prices as per growers' demand, adding that the companies have fixed rate Rs 217 per kg against the cost of production of about Rs 220 per kg, which is totally unjust for the poor farmers.
The farmers said that companies always tried to get tobacco at lowest rates through various tactics. They said the farmers are facing huge financial hardships to return their loans due to not providing rates as per their demands, whereas the companies' attitude has multiplied their miseries. The tobacco growers demanded of the government to address the issue on priority basis, otherwise they would compel to hold province-wide strike and protest demonstration against it.
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