Growers want only reasonable prices

Leaders of the Swabi Democratic Alliance in Swabi, Pakistan, have urged leaf purchasing companies to shun their tobacco rejection policy and buy tobacco from local growers at a reasonable price, according to a Dawn story relayed by the TMA.

Masood Jabbar, district chairman of the Qaumi Watan Party, said that once tobacco bales were rejected by leaf managers they lost value.

District organizer Ameer Rehman said the seven-party alliance would soon convene a meeting of the buying companies, political parties and growers to discuss farmers’ complaints about tobacco rejection and the possible steps that could be taken to address the issue.