SWABI: Leaders of tobacco growers on Thursday claimed that they suffered losses as tobacco purchasing companies preferred traders to them.

They asked companies to purchase tobacco directly from growers saying their interests are harmed by the middle men.

Central president of the Tobacco Growers Association Pakistan Liaquat Yousafzai told reporters here that the growers faced exploitation as businessmen were used by the tobacco purchasing companies to “meet their quota.”

“This policy has proved very harmful to farmers because the business community exploits the feeble financial position of tobacco cultivators by offering them purchasing crops on cash. The tobacco is later taken to the companies, which offer the business community more than what growers get,” he said.

Khalid Khan, district president of Kisan Board, said the companies offered Rs1,000 per kg to farmers and Rs1,200-Rs1,250 per kg to the business community and the latter also tried to pay farmers on the spot and purchased tobacco from them at a low price.

Sources in the companies told Dawn that the companies struggled to “complete their quota” and therefore, purchasers turned to the business community.

PLANTATION: The Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology and the Tarbela Dam administration jointly launched the monsoon plantation campaign on Thursday.

A function was held at GIK Institute to launch the drive and under the understanding reached between the two institutions they would make coordinated efforts to plant more saplings while educating the people about growing more trees to make Tarbela Dam and GIK Institute green and clean.

Tarbela Dam GM Zakir Attique, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said the plantation helped reduce pollution to keep the environment clean, so it was everyone’s responsibility to play their due role in creating a healthy environment by growing more and more trees.

He said people, especially students, were encouraged to plant trees.

GIKI rector Prof Fazal Ahmad Khalid said every student of the institute would plant 10 saplings during the current campaign, while the horticulture department and student societies would continue promoting plantation during the monsoon season.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2023