2 months ago
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Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has promised steps to easiness the situation facing baccy farmers, who are reeling from a crisp autumn successful prices, and directed elder officials of his Ministry to clasp discussions with tobacco-buying companies and instrumentality indispensable measures to enactment the growers.
The assurance came during a gathering held astatine the bureau of Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy successful New Delhi connected Friday (March 13). The gathering was attended by erstwhile Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, Mysuru MP, and a delegation of JD(S) leaders from Mysuru, Hassan and Chamarajanagar districts.
According to accusation shared by Mr. Kumaraswamy’s office, the problems faced by baccy growers were explained successful item to Mr. Goyal, who responded positively to the farmers’ demands.
He promised that steps would beryllium taken to resume baccy procurement from Monday (March 16), with officials of his Ministry engaging with representatives of starring baccy companies. He besides indicated that measures would beryllium initiated to promote companies from overseas countries to enactment straight successful the bidding process.
Tobacco procurement had been suspended astatine respective auction platforms successful Karnataka aft prices dropped sharply from ₹320 per kg to astir ₹250 per kg successful caller days.
Alleging that baccy purchasing companies had scaled down procurement, triggering the terms crash, farmers had demanded not lone a terms summation but besides that the authorities invitation overseas buyers to the auction platforms to boost competition.
Former Minister S.R. Mahesh, who was besides portion of the delegation that met Mr. Goyal, told reporters aboriginal that the Union Commerce Minister had assured that letters would beryllium sent to ambassadors of 190 countries, inviting their companies to acquisition baccy directly. He besides assured that steps would beryllium taken to grow exports to countries wherever Indian baccy has not been exported earlier.
Mr. Mahesh added that an entreaty would besides beryllium made to the State authorities to supply a enactment terms for tobacco.
He said the JD(S) delegation urged Mr. Goyal to guarantee a robust marketplace mechanics to stabilise prices and supply alleviation to farmers. The delegation besides highlighted the request for amended infrastructure astatine baccy auction platforms.
A. Manju, Arakalgud MLA, who was contiguous astatine the meeting, said the Tobacco Board had permitted cultivation of 100 cardinal kg of baccy successful Karnataka, but lone astir 80 cardinal kg had been produced this year.
However, companies that had earlier promised procurement were not purchasing adjacent the reduced quantity, helium said, urging the Centre to guarantee contiguous procurement of the baccy already grown.
Mallesh Babu, Kolar MP, G.D. Harish Gowda, Hunsur MLA, C.N. Manje Gowda, MLC, and erstwhile MLAs K. Mahadev and Ashwin Kumar were besides contiguous astatine the meeting.
