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Ch. R.S. Sarma

Kakinada, May 8 Virgin tobacco prices fetched a record price of Rs 118.60 a kg at the auctions on the Jangareddigudam platform number two in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday.

There are six floors in West Godavari where tobacco grown on north light soils are auctioned. In fact, at all auctions tobacco fetched Rs 188 a kg.

Till now, 113 million kg of tobacco have been sold at the 21 platforms in Andhra Pradesh at an average price of Rs 78.50 a kg.

Meanwhile, farmers boycotted the auctions on Wednesday protesting against a cartel formed by some traders, according to Mr Y. Sivaji, President, AP Virginia Tobacco Growers’ Association. The traders had reportedly tried to peg the prices around Rs 105 a kg.

However, farmers returned to the floors today and got the prices that have never been fetched in any other auction in the country.

Mr Sivaji said the Tobacco Board officials should desist from fixing an upper ceiling for the price. He added the authorities should resort to a lottery system in case two or more traders quote the same price.

Currently, a discretionary allotment was being practised by the board authorities and an end to it would help prevent any corruption, he said.

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