The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Tobacco farmers boycott auctions

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Wednesday, Jun 01, 2011
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Tobacco farmers boycott auctions

Staff Reporter

ONGOLE: Ahead of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy's meeting with representatives of farmers and buyers on June 1, tobacco growers in Prakasam district boycotted auctions in eight platforms on Tuesday to press for a remunerative price for their produce.

“Bail out farmers this year. We will switch to other crops from next year,'' Andhra Pradesh Tobacco Growers Cooperative Union former President Ch Seshaiah said.

“We are hoping against hope that the Chief Minister will come to the rescue of farmers. If the stalemate continues, the farmers will have no option but to go ahead with agitation from June 2,'' CPI(M)-led Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangam Prakasam district secretary N. Ranga Rao said.

The farmers boycotted auctions at the platforms of Ongole I, II, Tangutur I, II, Kondepi, Kandukur I, Vellampalli I, and II.

‘Well within target'

“Farmers have not overshot the crop size of 170 million kg fixed by the Tobacco Board for this year. Tobacco being a regulated crop, the Union and State governments have a responsibility to intervene and create buoyancy in the market,'' board member P. Badri Reddy said.

“After our agitation in early April we were promised Rs. 124 a kg for bright grade and better average price. But instead of improvement in average price, it started to fall to Rs. 107 a kg. Hence our decision to boycott auctioning,'' former Tobacco Board member M. Bangaru Babu said.

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