Auction of excess tobacco begins

Ongole: The auction of excess tobacco began in the Prakasam district on Thursday. The Tobacco Board started the auction at its two centres in Ongole and Tangutur each and one centre at Kondapi.

Prakasam District Tobacco Board Regional Manager G Uma Maheswara Rao paid a visit to the auction centres at Ongole and Tangutur towns and interacted with farmers. The farmers received an average price of Rs. 69.74 per kg.

Later, speaking to the media, Maheshwara Rao said that farmers expressed happiness with the amount that they were receiving for the bales. There is about 4.5 lakh kg of excess tobacco with the farmers pending for auction. The auction for it would continue up to Saturday at the five auction centers.”