Tobacco producers in Swabi expressed anger toward the Pakistan Tobacco Board, known as the PTB, for not organizing purchases of extra crop over a month after the official buying period finished, which leaves cultivators fighting to offload harvests at proper rates.
National and international tobacco businesses explained that acquisition ended on September 15 once corporations fulfilled yearly purchasing limits set by the PTB. They stated the board and the Federal Ministry of National Food Security and Research needed to create a plan so companies bought extra tobacco following regulations.
Tobacco Prices Fall After Regular Buying Season
Representatives from the Kashtkar Ittehad Association reported that extra tobacco sold at Rs. 545 per kilogram, down from above Rs. 700 per kilogram in the standard purchasing period. They stated reduced rates enabled firms and dealers to gain millions of rupees while hurting cultivators.
Association patron in chief Iqbal Khan Shewa stated that corporations and merchants took advantage of tobacco producers because of their poor money situation. Minor cigarette makers and different enterprises capitalized on market instability by acquiring tobacco cheaply.
Cultivators do not have proper storage spaces and money supplies, which compels them into trading harvests at steep discounts.
Maneri Bala tobacco cultivator Imran Khan stated that business representatives and tobacco merchants understood cultivators lacked supplies and spaces required for storing yields, making them open to cheap bids.
PTB Promises to Start Buying Surplus Crop
Cultivators blamed the PTB for not building a purchasing plan and claimed board staff always favored tobacco businesses over producers. They noted local and global corporations delayed acquisitions or showed minimal focus toward acquiring extra yields.
PTB Secretary Fakhruddin stated that the board will soon start acquiring extra tobacco from cultivators.
