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Tobacco growers seek phased ban

Ch. R.S. Sarma

Guntur, Feb. 21

TOBACCO farmers are not opposed to restrictions on smoking in public places and other measures contemplated by the Union Government to safeguard public health but the steps would have to be taken in a phased manner over a period of time so that those dep endent on the crop and the industry are not adversely affected, Mr Ch. Seshaiah, President of the AP Tobacco Growers' Union (Ongole), has said.

He told Business Linethat an action plan should be prepared to bring down tobacco production and consumption substantially over a period of 10 years or so. The farmers should be paid compensation for dismantling the barns and irrigation facilities shoul d be created for alternative crops.

``It is of no use to impose drastic restrictions on consumption of tobacco without regulating the production. It will create a mismatch and the farmer would be further exploited,'' he said. He said the requisite amendments should be carried out to the To bacco Board Act, 1975, to bring down production and the Union Commerce Ministry should take a decision quickly on the matter.

Mr Seshaiah said alternative avenues of employment should be created for the workers dependent on the industry, especially the bidi sector, and drastic decisions would not serve the purpose.

Echoing a similar sentiment, Mr V.V.S Rama Rao, Vice-President, Virginia Tobacco Growers' Association, said the farmers in Andhra Pradesh had stuck to the crop holiday decision this year in view of the crisis in the market and 99 per cent of them had swi tched over to alternative crops. ``Those who have grown pulses are not regretting it, but those who have opted for paddy are unhappy as rates have fallen and there is a slump in the market,'' he said.

He said the Government would have to pay a compensation of Rs 50,000 per barn to the tobacco farmers for switching over to other crops, as they had invested nearly Rs 1 lakh on each barn. Besides, watershed development scheme and lift irrigation schemes should be taken up in the tobacco-growing Krishna-Godavari zone to make alternative crops viable. ``The farmer is not wedded to tobacco. He can give it up, if there are alternatives,'' he added.

Mr G. Sivaramprasad, Treasurer of the Virginia Tobacco Growers' Association, wondered whether the ban would be sincerely implemented. ``In principle, however, there can be no objection to the proposal, provided it is done gradually without hurting the fa rmer,'' he said.