The Hindu Business Line : Tobacco Board appoints consultants

As part of efforts to help the struggling tobacco growers, the Tobacco Board has appointed consultants who would identify remunerative export orders to market tobacco. These consultants would advise the Andhra Pradesh Tobacco Growers Co-operative Union, which has purchased about 1.05-lakh kg of the produce since May 10.

Giving this information, the Chairman of the Tobacco Board, Mr P. Dayachari, said 53 million kg of tobacco has been marketed so far against an estimated production of 140 million kg. The State Government has released Rs 7 crore to the union to help them enter the market and undertake market intervention operations.

The union has purchased tobacco to the tune of Rs 45 lakh and its presence is showing a beneficial impact on the pricing front, he informed the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on Saturday.

In one of his first review meetings, the Chief Minister, who got a briefing from the Tobacco Board and senior State Government officials on the ongoing auctions and prevailing prices of tobacco, said he would request the Centre to make available funds to the union to ensure that remunerative prices are maintained to benefit the farmers.