3 months ago
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The Tobacco Board is holding a gathering with the elected representatives of baccy increasing regions of Karnataka and the baccy traders successful Mysuru connected Monday (March 2, 2026) to sermon the concern arising retired of the caller clang successful baccy prices.
MPs representing Mysuru and Kodagu, Chamarajanagar, Hassan and Mandya Lok Sabha constituencies, too MLAs representing Periyapatna, Hunsur, H. D. Kote, K. R. Nagar and Arkalgud person been invited for the meeting, which volition besides beryllium attended by Tobacco Board Chairman Yashwanth Kumar Chidipothu, Board’s Executive Director B. Vishwasree and Board’s Director (Auctions) B. C. Srinivas.
All the large cigaret manufacturers and exporters, including ITC, are expected to be the gathering held successful the aftermath of the interest gripping the baccy farmers of the portion pursuing a illness successful the prices of baccy aft the Centre precocious hiked GST from 28% to 40%.
It whitethorn beryllium mentioned present that the baccy farmers resorted to an agitation aft the prices of superior people tobacco, which was fetching them astir ₹ 320 per kg, crashed to ₹ 270-280 per kg successful the weeks pursuing the Union Budget.
The illness successful prices was attributed to diminution successful the procurement by the cigaret manufacturers, traders and exporters.
The crisp autumn successful baccy prices sparked protests by farmers successful Hunsur and Periyapatna, 2 cardinal baccy increasing regions successful the state, starring to suspension successful auctions successful galore platforms successful the authorities past week.
While Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar said the MPs of the tobacco-growing regions successful Karnataka and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh had urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to reappraisal the hike successful GST from 28% to 40%, Minister for Animal Husbandry and Sericulture K Venkatesh, who besides represents baccy increasing areas of Periyapatna successful the Legislative Assembly, came down heavy connected the baccy traders for scaling down their procurement aft giving a higher estimation astatine the clip of submission of an indent to the Tobacco Board.
The Tobacco Board fixes a harvest size based connected the indent submitted by the trade.
The illness successful prices mid-way done the auction play - with astir 40 cardinal tonnes retired of the full 85 cardinal tonnes remaining unsold - farmers are disquieted astir its economical interaction connected their lives.
Auctions person resumed crossed astir platforms successful the authorities and the terms for the superior people of baccy has crossed ₹ 300 per kg. The farmers are hoping that the prices summation to scope the prices prevailing earlier the collapse.
