PESHAWAR / SWABI, Feb 6: The production of tobacco in various parts of the NWFP is likely to drop by 50 per cent this year owing to higher cost of inputs and lower return being offered by companies, growers say.

Talking to Dawn, they said that most of the farmers in tobacco growing districts such as Mardan, Charsadda, Malakand, Swabi and Buner had opted for alternative crops like sugarcane and wheat.

Murad Ali Khan, provincial president of the Kissan Board Pakistan, claimed that last year each farmer had suffered Rs50,000 to Rs80,000 losses because of the lowest price offered by the tobacco companies, whereas the companies had earned huge profit.

“Last year’s bitter experience and inability of the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) to announce minimum purchase price well before the start of cultivation season have left the growers with no other option but to go for alternative crops,” Mr Khan said.

He pointed out that the per kilogram cost of growing tobacco was around Rs85.50 while the PTB estimates put it at Rs49.34, adding that this huge difference was the main reason for the prevailing crisis.

He said that the representatives of tobacco companies had agreed to the cost of production worked out by them at a meeting convened by the NWFP government last year to resolve the longstanding dispute.

He pointed out the PTB had also been directed to announce the minimum support price well before the plantation season. But the PTB had advertised the demand of the companies some two months back without determining the minimum support price in violation of the provincial government directives, he lamented.

Ikramullah Khan, head of the Anjuman-i-Kashtkaran Tobacco, NWFP, termed the existing practice of purchase illogical as the tobacco companies reached agreements with the growers normally in November without negotiating the prices.

Tobacco nurseries were usually planted in December and January and its purchase season begins in June following which per kg price of various categories are determined.

He suggested that the issue of price determination should be decided between the tobacco companies and farmers before planting of tobacco through a properly representative price and grade revision committee.

When contacted a senior official at the PTB conceded that last year the growers had sustained financial losses, adding that this time the board was going to announce the minimum support price by next week keeping in view hardships of the growers.

He pointed out that the announcement of purchase price well before four months of the start of purchase season would give the growers a choice whether to go for tobacco or any alternative crop.

According to him, this year around 75 million kilograms tobacco yield was expected as compared to 65 million kilograms last year.

PROTEST: Meanwhile, growers on Tuesday demanded an increase in tobacco prices for the upcoming season.