MARDAN, Jan 26: Tobacco growers in five districts of the NWFP contribute about Rs28 billion to the national exchequer annually as tobacco cess, but their living standard has constantly deteriorated.

This was stated by the provincial general secretary of Anjumn Kashtkaran, Ismail Jan Khan, while talking to newsmen at the Mardan Press Club on Wednesday.

The farmers of Buner, Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda and Mansehra produced the best quality of Virginia and white patta tobacco which earned foreign exchange, but the growers were facing increasing socio-economic difficulties, he said, adding that the government did not spend a single penny on their welfare.

He said that the tobacco companies were not giving proper price to them. He suggested that the government should reduce tax on tobacco leaf so that growers could enjoy some relief. Ismail Jan deplored that due to non-existence of technical education centres and industries, unemployment was increasing in these districts.

He criticized the indifferent attitude of both the federal and provincial governments to improving the lot of the people of these areas. He urged the government to improve living conditions of the people to avoid a Balochistan like situation in the Frontier province.

SEMINAR: The Anjumn Kashtkaran will hold an agriculture seminar at the Mardan Press Club on Thursday. Provincial minister for agriculture Qari Mehmood would be the chief guest on this occasion. The seminar would discuss problems relating to the growers and will also discuss the prices of sugar cane, beat, seeds, pesticides and fertilizer.