The Tobacco Board, after marketing 100 million kg (crop size fixed for Karnataka), now has begun imposing a steep fine/penalty on growers who bring overgrown tobacco to the auction platforms.

The board has fixed Rs 2 a kg as penalty and in addition, is charging 15 per cent as service tax to growers who have grown more than the permitted crop size.

According to a senior Tobacco Board official, auctions will continue despite the board marketing the authorised quantity in record time. It is estimated that about 25 to 30 million kg of tobacco is still to be marketed. The balance crop would be sold in the subsequent weeks after imposing fine/penalty on the crop entering the auctions platforms.

At the end of the 142 days of auction (Monday), about 98.66 million kg (9.73 lakh bales) of FCV tobacco variety have been marketed in Karnataka, with an average price fetched Rs 95.10/kg.

Of the total quantity marketed, bright grades comprised of 20 million kg and were traded at an average price of Rs 118.80. Medium grades comprised of 50 million kg, were traded at an average price of Rs 102.05/kg. Low grades, of 29 million kg,sold at an average price of Rs 67.41/kg.

Following are platform-wise auction details, as on Tuesday: H.D.Kote 93,833 bales marketed (8.93 million kg), average price Rs 91.08/kg. Hunsur-1 60,062 bales (6.18 million kg), Rs 97.61/kg. Hunsur-2 81,212 bales (8.29 million kg), Rs 95.42/kg. Periyapatna-1 1.10 lakh bales (11.14 million kg), Rs 95.95/kg. Periyapatna-2 1.03 lakh bales (10.64 million kg) Rs 99.37/kg. Periyapatna-3 96,070 bales (9.97 million kg) Rs 96.28/kg. Ramanathpura-1 98306 bales (9.82 million kg) Rs 91.92/kg. Kampalapura-1 94,845 bales (9.58 million kg) Rs 97.29/kg. Kampalapura-2 80,333 bales (8.09 million kg) Rs 95.87/kg. Ramanathpura-2 95,059 bales (9.85 million kg) Rs 90.48/kg. Hunsur-3 60,751 bales (6.12 million kg) Rs 95.16/kg.

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