SWABI: Sowing of both White Patta (WP) and Virginia varieties of tobacco began here on Sunday, marking the start of a critical year for the growers as national and international companies have reduced their purchasing quota by about 18 million kilogrammes to 51 million kilogrammes this year.

The tobacco sowing started with a function organised by Kashttkar Coordination Council (KCC). The tobacco cultivation is expected to continue till mid next month.

“We have started tobacco cultivation with much fanfare as this is our cash crop,” Sardar Khan, a grower, said.

At the meeting, the farmers’ leaders said no matter what the purchasing companies’ quota, the growers would cultivate the tobacco as they had been doing this over the years.

Liaqat Yousufzai, KCC’s general secretary, said elected representatives would be asked to put pressure on the firms in case they refused to purchase surplus tobacco from the farmers. The growers warned if their produce wasn’t purchased as per their expectations, they would stage protest demonstrations in tobacco growing districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Mohammad Ali Dagiwal, a KCC member, said reduction in tobacco purchasing quota would seriously hurt interests of the growers.

LAND FOR SCHOOL: Swabi Deputy Commissioner Matiullah Khan and district education officer Jan Mohammad visited the 15 kanal of the disputed land meant to be used for constructing additional rooms of the government high school, Topi. MPA Shiraz Khan, who accompanied the officials, informed them that construction of additional eight rooms would cost Rs23 million. He demanded imposition of section 144 to ensure smooth execution of the project.

A row has been going on between the school management and the landowner, with the former winning the case in the local courts. But the landowner has challenged the courts’ verdicts in the Peshawar High Court.

The deputy commissioner said the land would be acquired using legal means.

Published in Dawn, February 29th, 2016