MP Vishwanath dismissed concerns raised by farmers about the price of tobacco crop, and said that prices were stable in the market and will not drop.
Speaking at a press meet, here on Sunday, he said that 60 million tonnes of tobacco has been sold already and the prices were better than it was last year. Even the Central government has taken action to provide stability to the price of tobacco. Farmers have nothing to worry about, he said.
He also advised Tambaaku Belegaarara Hitarakshana Samithi from staging a protest, as the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Anand Sharma and Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah would hold discussions regarding the prices of cash crops in the State, in Bangalore, today. “Since, international buyers of tobacco are currenty in the State, staging a protest would send a wrong message,” he said.
Earlier, a delegation led by the CM had met Anand Sharma and discussed the prices of crops, he said.
Currently, high grade tobacco is priced at Rs 168 per kg, medium grade Rs 135-145 per kg and low grade at Rs 60-68 a kg. The prices are better than they were last year, he said. The process of tobacco sale will continue till February and the stability of prices will be maintained, he said.
During the current year, there was a target to buy 102 million tonnes of tobacco, of which 60 per cent is complete. For the remaining 42 tonnes too, same prices will be maintained, he added.
Dispute
Responding to queries on the dispute between the State government and Wadiyar family over the laters properties, he said that the case was in the Supreme Court. On allegations made by JD(S) leaders that Congress has disrespected Yadu dynasty, he dismissed them as baseless and said that it was during JD(S) rule in 1994, when H D Devegowda was the chief minister, that the Palace Acquisition Bill was taken up in the Assembly. The Palace was acquired in 1997-98, when JD(S) was in power, hurting the sentiments of Wadiyar family, he said.