MYSORE: Tobacco growers in Mysore have taken exception to the penalty imposed on excess production.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, President of Mysore Virginia Fluke Cured (VFC) Tobacco Growers' Association S.R.S. Gowda said the Tobacco Board has increased the ceiling on each barn from 1,500 to 2,000 kg for the coming auction season, but the Centre has imposed a penalty of 15 per cent on the additional 500 kg grown by each barn owner.

Mr. Gowda urged the Government to immediately withdraw the penalty.

General Secretary of the Association G.C. Vikramraj accused the Government of showing a "step-motherly" attitude towards tobacco farmers.

"When farmers growing other crops are being given a compensation of Rs. 800 for every acre for land hit by natural calamity, tobacco farmers are being penalised for growing excess produce."

The Association office-bearers complained of delayed payment from the Board for produce sold at auctions.

"Farmers receive cheques fifteen days after the produce is sold. And once the cheque is remitted, it takes another ten days to realise the amount. They need to wait for almost 25 days to get money," Mr. Vikramraj said.

Mr. Vikramraj urged the Board to take immediate steps to issue cheques to farmers within five days of the transaction.

They took exception to the deduction of Rs. 440 towards the premium on insurance for tobacco stock. The premium is being deducted without the consent of the farmers.

The private insurance company and the Tobacco Board are cheating farmers, Secretary of the Association K.S. Suresh has said.

"There are a total of 50,000 tobacco farmers in Karnataka and about Rs 1.5 crores has been collected from them by way of insurance premium on stock", Mr. Suresh said.

Centre's decision

Tobacco Board Member Javare Gowda told The Hindu that the penalty of 15 per cent has not been introduced by the Tobacco Board.

"It is a decision taken by the Centre. The Board has no power to withdraw it", said Mr. Javare Gowda, who is also a tobacco grower and President of Karnataka VFC Tobacco Growers Association.

The Karnataka VFC Tobacco Growers Association has also urged the Government to withdraw the penalty.

The Board introduced the insurance scheme only after the growers made a demand. As such a scheme exists in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, farmers in Karnataka too sought insurance cover for their stock from rains, damage and disfiguration during storing.

The tobacco auction season, which began in August-September last year, is scheduled to come to an end in a month.

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