SWABI, July 7: Growers on Sunday complained that two of the major tobacco companies had refused to purchase their surplus produce.

Officials of both the companies, contacted by this correspondent, said that they had bought the white-leaf tobacco from growers in accordance with their respective quotas, adding that their companies were not in a position to buy the surplus tobacco. They said that they were looking forward to buy Virginia tobacco and its purchase was in full swing all across the tobacco-growing areas.

The largest tobacco company in Pakistan had bought 800,000 kilogrammes of the white-leaf tobacco, while the company ranking number two had also bought a similar amount.

Officials of both the companies claimed that they had informed growers not to produce surplus tobacco at the advent of the sowing season.

They said under a tobacco marketing law — MLO-487 — tobacco companies were required to purchase half of their declared quota direct from growers.

An official working for one the tobacco companies at Firdousabad, while referring to the company’s lower than projected sales because of dwindling demand, said that farmers had been forewarned in this regard.

Another official said: “We had told them that the companies will purchase tobacco according to their indicated requirements from the agreement-holders and not from independent growers, warning them not to grow tobacco without proper agreements.”

Sources said that three other companies’ purchase requirements did not exceed 55,000 kilogrammes and none of the smaller companies purchased tobacco directly from the growers and always entered into bargains with traders, adding that the Pakistan Tobacco Board took no action against these companies.

Growers, contacted by this correspondent, urged the tobacco companies to purchase their entire quota requirements directly from them instead of relying on brokers and traders.

Accusing the tobacco traders of buying their produce at rock-bottom prices, adding that they also delayed payments against their purchases by months and in some cases even refused to pay them.

They accused a union council Nazim, who also works as a part-time tobacco trader, of withholding dues amounting to Rs9.8 million since 1997, adding that they had not been able to recover anything despite their best efforts.