Prakasam Collector assures tobacco procurement, warns companies against ‘no bids’
Farmers in Ongole protested against tobacco procurement issues, prompting the District Collector to intervene and warn companies against refusing to bid on produce. The government is now enforcing price floors and production limits to stabilize the market for the next season.
Why it matters
It illustrates the tension between agricultural producers and corporate buyers, and the role of government intervention in protecting farmer livelihoods.
Demanding that the government ensure procurement of tobacco at a remunerative price, farmers under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) blocked the main entrance to the Collectorate in Ongole on Saturday. The protest came as the relay hunger strike launched by the SKM entered its third day.
The article balances the farmers' grievances with the government's regulatory response and the companies' perspective on overproduction.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in