PESHAWAR, July 20: Farmers from the tobacco-growing districts of Swabi, Buner, Charsadda, Mardan and Peshawar on Thursday demanded representation in the Pakistan Tobacco Board to be able to protect the rights of small growers across the NWFP.

Speaking at a joint news conference, Sirmir Khan of the Rahbar organisation from Buner, Prof Munawar Khan of Ghulam Kashtkaran from Swabi, Wisal Mohammad of Community Development from Swabi, Janisar Khalil of Itehad Zamindaran-o-Kashtkaran and Namir Ali of Tobacco Growers Action Committee alleged that multinational companies -– the Pakistan Tobacco Company and the Lakson Tobacco Company — had been exploiting thousands of small farmers through various tactics for the last several years.

They said both the companies had a monopoly over tobacco trade and paid little to local farmers. “Their (the companies) officers decide about the quality of tobacco, determine tobacco rates, sign agreements, declare about the additional yield and play upon other unethical tactics to increase their profit,” said the leader of the growers.

They lamented that the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) was not protecting the interest of farmers who were the backbone of tobacco business, instead the board was serving the interests of both tobacco companies and other interest groups involved in the business.

They complained that the farmers paid billions of rupees in the shape of excise duty to the federal government but not a single paisa had been spent on the tobacco-growing areas. “We can witness the conditions of roads and water supply schemes in our areas,” they added.

They presented a five-point charter of demands and asked the companies that the prices of Virginia No1 and No2 be fixed at the rate of Rs150 and Rs100 per kg respectively, the PTB should be restructured and equal representation be granted to the farmers of tobacco-growing districts and the PTB membership term be fixed for two years, all unethical business practices should be stopped forthwith, and some amount from the central excise duty should be spent on the development of tobacco-growing areas.