PESHAWAR, Sept 16: Like previous years, this year too tobacco yield in the Frontier province is likely to surpass the actual demand put forth by the cigarette companies for the 2002 season.

According to a press release of the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB), against 45.1 million kilogramme demand for flue-cured Virginia, the actual yield is expected to be well over 56 million kilogramme.

This means that the tobacco growers would again be confronting a crisis-like situation similar to the one they faced in the past. Over the years they have been engaged in a row with the PTB and cigarette companies over the pricing issue.

The PTB wants them to grow tobacco as per the demand submitted by the cigarette companies every year. However, the growers go for crop yield greater than the cigarette companies’ demand. They do so on the pretext that the cigarette manufacturers intentionally submit low demand for tobacco to make them sale their crop at a price much less than the one they get under the government-controlled agreements between them and the cigarette manufacturers.

Apart from the flue-cured Virginia, the yield of other types of tobacco, including dark air-cured, white patta and burley is also expected to be more than the demand made by the cigarette manufacturers for the 2002 season.

According to the PTB press release, against 1.55 million kilogramme demand for dark air-cured for the current season, an estimated yield of 2.14 million kilogramme is expected. Similar is the case with the white patta. Against an original demand of 2.1 million kilogramme for white patta, an yield of 9.38 million kilogramme is expected in the current season.

Though the current year’s projected requirements for flue-cured Virginia, air-cured and white patta were lower by 11.6 per cent, 10.8 per cent and 10.6 per cent respectively, as compared to 2001 cropping season, the growers had gone for greater yields, the PTB press release said.

The press release said in an effort to protect the rights and interest of tobacco growers, the PTB in collaboration with the governments of Punjab and NWFP, had taken several measures for smooth marketing operations for tobacco crop during the current season.

It stated that specific dates had been fixed/announced making the tobacco companies bound to start purchase of the crop to avoid inconvenience to the growers. Moreover, vigilance committees had been established for all purchase depots to settle disputes, if any, between the growers and cigarette manufacturers.

Besides, six governor inspection teams have been constituted, including one each for Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, Mansehra, Buner and Swat districts, to inspect and monitor tobacco marketing operations.

The commercial banks have also been asked to extend seasonal credit facility under the deferred payment vouchers scheme to ensure timely payment of dues to tobacco growers.