Tobacco farmers fall prey to traders' syndicate
DC's office besieged in Lalmonirhat
Over a thousand tobacco farmers laid siege to Lalmonirhat deputy commissioner's office on Tuesday and submitted memorandum demanding that tobacco companies directly purchase the produce from farmers.
DC Mokhlesur Rahman assured them of taking proper initiative through discussion with the authorities of tobacco companies concerned.
The agitating farmers also held a rally at Mission Crossing in the town, where district BNP president and former deputy minister Asadul Habib Dulu addressed as chief guest.
Lalmonirhat district saw an astounding rise in tobacco cultivation this year as the crop was cultivated on about 40 thousand acres of land against last year's six thousand acres, according to a Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) official.
Abandoning paddy or other crops, farmers cultivated tobacco on much larger areas of land as officials of different tobacco companies assured them of fair prices and distributed seeds and fertiliser free of cost, gave interest-free loan and other supports, he said.
Farmers alleged that unscrupulous staffs of tobacco companies are now purchasing tobacco from the traders' syndicate for bribe of Tk 800 to 1000 for a maund (40 kg) of tobacco.
A maund (40 kgs) of Virginia tobacco is selling for Tk 800 to 1200 in the open market, while it is sold for Tk 3000 to 3600 at the purchase centres of tobacco companies.
Farmers who decline to give bribes are not allowed to sell their produce at the purchase centres of tobacco companies, they alleged.
They have to incur loss as they are compelled to sell it for lower prices in the open market.
"Representatives of several companies earlier motivated the farmers to cultivate tobacco by giving attractive promises. But farmers are now deprived of fair prices due to manipulation by middlemen," Nasir Uddin, 52, a farmer of Douljor village in Aditmari upazila, said.
Denying the allegation, district representatives of a few companies however said they are purchasing tobacco from the growers for fair prices.
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