Relief for Karnataka tobacco farmers: Centre allows sale of of excess, unauthorised stock sans extra charges

New Delhi: In a big relief to Karnataka’s flue cured virginia (FCV) tobacco farmers affected due to heavy rains, the Centre on Monday allowed the sale of excess and unauthorised tobacco at Tobacco Board auctions without additional charges.

"The Central Government considers it necessary in the public interest to dispose of the excess flue cured virginia tobacco of registered growers and unauthorised growers at the auction platforms authorised by the Tobacco Board in the state of Karnataka," said the notification issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industries.

Hailing the decision, BJP Rajya Sabha member Lahar Singh Siroya said that this decision by the Union Government helps around 70,000 tobacco growers of Karnataka to recover their losses, sustain livelihoods, and manage rising costs.

A commendable initiative that reaffirms the Centre's commitment to Karnataka's agricultural welfare and farmer prosperity, he added.

Excess rain during last year's Cyclone hit the tobacco crop in Karnataka as well as Andhra Pradesh and farmers have been demanding the Centre to permit them to sell at Tobacco Board's auction platform.

Union Steel Minister H D Kumaraswamy and President of the JD(S) Youth Wing, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, recently met Union Minister for Commerce and Industries Piyush Goyal in the national capital and appraised the problem faced by tobacco farmers.

Tobacco farmers in Karnataka have been grappling with multiple challenges, including price disparities compared to farmers in other states, Kumaraswamy told Goyal.