INDIA
The Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA), which represents millions of farmers and farmworkers in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Gujarat has called for the central government to provide a relief package, incentives, subsidies, and loan facilities to save the livelihood of tobacco farmers as the demand for tobacco has weakened during the lockdown.
According to FAIFA, an urgent rescue package is needed as tobacco crops lie unsold. Part of the rescue package includes a INR25,000 “compensation amount” for each registered tobacco grower and a rescheduling of crop loans.
The non-profit also requested a temporary reduction of taxes on cigarettes as flue-cured virginia tobacco (FCV) has dropped significantly during the lockdown.
FAIFA also demanded a comprehensive FCV tobacco production plan for 2020-21, an immediate start to auctions in all tobacco bidding platforms, and reasonable prices at actions in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.