SWABI: Cultivation of both Virginia and White tobacco is expected to start in the next two days in all the tobacco growing areas of the Swabi district, the farmers told Dawn on Monday.

They said the nurseries were ready to be planted. “If the farmers desire to have high-quality crop they have to grow good nurseries. This is a prerequisite for growing a fine tobacco crop,” said a leaf manager of a multinational company.

Officials of the companies said they had always guided the farmers to adopt modern techniques for growing excellent nurseries while using high quality seeds, but a number of farmers were still sticking to old methods.

The leaf managers and other officials of the companies also met the farmers to provide them with seed and to advise them against growing non-recommended varieties because the companies would not purchase them.

The officials said for the current year the total tobacco demand announced by the Pakistan Tobacco Board was 37.07 million kilogrammes, 12.59 million kilogrammes less than the previous year.

“I have used the modern techniques to grow the nursery, thus acting upon the guidelines of the purchasing firms’ officials, which has been very productive,” said grower Naseeb Dad of Maneri Bala.

Mohammad Zahid Khan of Bamkhel said growing a good nursery required concentration and great care from the initial stage till its plantation.

“If a farmer succeeds to grow good nursery it means half the task of growing crop is complete,” he said.

PEACE BODY FORMED: The elders of Pirtab village have constituted a six-member committee tasked with resolving rivalries among the people at the local level to prevent loss of life.

It is learnt that elders met a few days ago and selected the committee members through mutual consensus.

“Instead of harming each other’s interests now the locals will help in resolution of issues,” said Maulana Iftikhar Ali, a member of the committee.

TREE PLANTATION: The district government plans to plant thousands of saplings in the district during the current tree plantation drive.

Relevant officials said on Monday that district nazim Zahid Khan would inaugurate the plantation campaign. They said the departments and educational institutions had been directed to fully participate in the campaign.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2019