Tobacco growers, who were struggling to cope with the falling prices owing to the gloomy global market, heaved a sigh of relief after Union Minister of State for Commerce Nirmala Sitharaman announcing a compensation of Rs. 2,000 per quintal for low-grade tobacco during her visit to Prakasam district last month.
But, the notification issued by the Tobacco Board to limit the payment of compensation to the grades of tobacco, which fetched below Rs. 40 per kg only, has come as a bolt from the blue to growers.
Moved by some tobacco farmers committing suicide, the Minister, after making a review of the ground realities with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, had announced that the Centre would provide Rs. 15 and the State government Rs. 5 per kg of low-grade tobacco.
Taking up cudgels for the ryots in trouble, YSRC Whip in Parliament Y.V. Subba Reddy termed as “irrational” limiting the compensation to growers whose produce got less than Rs. 40 per kg from traders.
