Protect Tobacco Farmers' Interest, Minister Tells Centre

ANIMAL Husbandry and Sericulture Minister K Venkatesh urged the Union Government to implement policies that safeguard the interest of tobacco farmers, particularly in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Mysuru

He said tobacco farmers in these states contribute ₹13,000 crore in taxes to the Centre and should be properly supported.

Presenting the award to the best tobacco farmer at a function organised by the Tobacco Board here on Tuesday, Venkatesh, a tobacco grower himself, highlighted the financial struggles of farmers, who often incur losses rather than profits.

He said that the pre-monsoon rains had washed away fertilisers, forcing the farmers to apply more fertiliser around the plant.