MP writes to Piyush Goyal to address tobacco growers’ crisis

Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, Mysuru MP, has urged the Union government to take immediate steps to address the concerns of tobacco growers in his constituency, where the number of farmers engaged in tobacco cultivation has increased.

In a letter to Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, the MP sought urgent intervention to facilitate the purchase of tobacco cultivated by growers this season.

According to data provided by the MP, nearly 10,000 card-holding farmers had grown about 10 million kg of tobacco. However, the crop had been declared unauthorised, pushing them into severe distress.

Highlighting the acute financial hardship faced by the farming community, Mr. Wadiyar requested the Commerce Ministry to permit the immediate procurement of the produce.

Over the past decade, both registered and unregistered growers in Karnataka had together produced close to 100 million kg of tobacco annually. Due to climate change and other challenges, the output had now fallen to 80 million kg, he said.

The MP also urged the Centre to grant registered-grower status to unregistered farmers and to increase the procurement quota by 10%, arguing that such measures would enhance overall authorised procurement.

Mr. Wadiyar also requested the Union Minister to direct officials of the Tobacco Board to resolve the ongoing issues faced by growers and extend the required support.