Tobacco farmers stage protest at auction centre in Ongole
Tobacco farmers in Ongole staged a protest due to stagnant prices at the auction centre. They expressed their distress by burning tobacco bales, highlighting that a significant portion of their produce remains unsold. Farmers are calling for government intervention to address their financial losses and support the industry.
- ▪Farmers protested at the auction centre in Ongole, expressing frustration over stagnant tobacco prices.
- ▪The auction saw a dramatic increase in unsold bales, rising from 25% to 70%.
- ▪Farmers are facing significant financial losses, with prices dropping from ₹28,000 to ₹25,000 per quintal compared to last year.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Tobacco farmers, under the aegis of Samyukta Kisan Morcha, staged a dharna at the auction centre near Throvagunta in Ongole town of Prakasam district on Monday (May 25, 2026). As a part of the protest, the farmers set fire to tobacco bales, expressing their distress over stagnant prices in the market.Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham district president Pamidi Venkat Rao, who participated in the protest, said, “Even after almost two months since the commencement of the tobacco auction centre, some farmers have still not been able to sell their bales. At the beginning of the auction, there were no bids for 25% of the bales. Now, that number has increased to 70%.”He further said, “The farmers are worried about whether they will be able to sell tobacco this year.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Hindu — Top.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from The Hindu — Top
