Podili (Prakasham): To procure Tobacco on par with MSP or otherwise he will initiate agitation in support of the farmers, warned AP former CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday.

YS Jagan on Wednesday visited the Tobacco market yard at Podali, to support the farmers to get market price for their produced Tobacco. A huge crowd of people participated in YS Jagan’s visit to Podali market yard. YSRCP activists, farmers and followers attended the tour.

YS Jagan reached the Podali Tobacco market yard and interacted with the farmers and with the market yard auction officer. He took the notes from the market yard auction officer Giriraj Kumar. The auction officer told to YS Jagan that nearly 4390 farmers produced 2601 barrens of Tobacco in this market yard.

Farmers cultivated Tobacco in 11031 hectors instead of 8534 hectors and they produced 18 million kgs Tobacco. But the Government accorded permission to the farmers’ 11.10 million kgs of Tobacco for procurement. He also told to YS Jagan that they are purchasing bright grade Rs. 265 per kg, medium grade Rs. 225/ kg and low grade Rs. 180/ kg.

Increase of Tobacco production 25% in Brazil and Zimbabwe, the buyers are not coming forward to buy the low grade Tobacco. That’s why they are rejecting the low grade Tobacco bundles in a large scale.

Farmers explained to YS Jagan that they are facing heavy interest for their availed loans due to the rejection of Tobacco bundles. They urged YS Jagan to save them from this crisis by forcing the Government to procure Tobacco.

YS Jagan in his speech with the farmers said that the Tobacco procurement will start in March and conclude in June every year. But this year unfortunately no procurement started till June. The Government is cheating the farmers without providing the fair marketing conditions.

The Government procured only 40 million kgs instead of 220 million kgs in the State so far. In his previous Government, the Tobacco procured
Rs. 366/ kg, now the procure rate is below Rs. 200/ kg. Tobacco farmers are facing heavy losses to due to the low procurement price.

But the TDP women activists tried to demonstrate a protest with black ballons, placards in YS Jagan’s Podili visit.