Tobacco auctions in Nellore likely to begin tomorrow: Collector M V Seshagiri Babu

Nellore: Enabling the tobacco farmers to sell their produce at the auction centres, the District Collector M V Seshagiri Babu on Saturday issued a notification declaring DC Palli in Marripadu and Kaligiri mandal headquarters as green zones for resuming tobacco auctions.

The auctions are likely to start from May 11, according to the officials. Tobacco farmers are facing a difficult situation with the terminated auction process due to lockdown. The auctions had started in DC Palli and Kaligiri Centres on February 14. Only 5 per cent of the auction has been completed and the huge volume of stocks are with the farmers, according to the sources.

Tobacco was grown in 5,500-6,000 hectares this year and the Tobacco Board officials have warned the farmers to confine to the approved area to get their investments.

During 2018-19, the farmers had suffered huge losses due to quality issues where around 2.5 lakh kg was sold as low grade.

The Tobacco Board had permitted to grow 10.4 million kgs of tobacco during this season. Farmers expected to recover the previous losses this year, but the lockdown situation dampened their spirit.

This year, though the Tobacco Board planned for auctions, buyers basically from Prakasam and Guntur districts, failed to participate in the auction due to restrictions on the transport.

The Board finally postponed the process. Farmers are in fear that the stocked tobacco after curing would be considered as a low grade. Now, the district administration declared the mandals as green zone and the auctions are expected to take place from May 11.