Growers disappointed with tobacco board

Mohammad Farooq and his brother Sahibzada, who grow tobacco in Swabi district, told Dawn that tobacco companies forced them into buying tobacco-specific pesticides from them hurting their business interest.

They said they struggled to buy pesticides for maize and wheat from dealers after ignoring them at the time of buying pesticides for tobacco.

“Companies tend to dictate their terms to us. They use their tobacco purchasing agreements signed with growers to their advantage,” Mr Sahibzada said.

Under the Martial Law Regulations-487, tobacco companies are required to submit to the PTB the details of their requirements for the ensuing tobacco crop by October 21 every year. On the basis of those details, they make agreements with growers for purchases.

When contacted, secretary PTB Nauman Bashir rejected the growers` complaints and said the board took all possible steps under the regulations to protect the growers` economic interests.

He said had PTB not taken care of the growers` interests, fights would have broken out between the growers and tobacco companies.

“It is because of us that growers get a fair price of their yields every year and enjoy a protected and stable market,” he said.

Khalid Khan, president Kissan (farmers) Board, said tobacco companies didn`t give growers hybrid seeds free of cost. “They charge Rs1,000 for supplying hybrid seeds for one acre against the previous rate of Rs200,” he said.

However, the PTB secretary rejected Mr Khalid`s stand and said: “It`s impossible. No company can do that.”

He said all tobacco companies supplied free hybrid seed of RGH-4 variety and others to growers, adding that not a single rupee was paid by growers for hybrid seeds.

A PTB official, however, said growers bore the cost of hybrid seeds when companies faced their shortage.

Mr Bashir said the requirement for Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco for the upcoming crop had been fixed at 67 million kilogrammes, almost one million kilogrammes less than that of the last year.

He said the measure had been taken to protect the growers` interest.

“Last year, some small tobacco companies signed purchase agreements with growers but later backed out and didn`t procure tobacco to the loss of growers.

However, this time we have ignored these companies resulting into reduction in the FCV requirements for the next cropping season,” he said.