Karnataka JD(S) Expresses Gratitude to PM Modi for Aid to Tobacco Farmers Affected by Heavy Rains
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Synopsis
The Karnataka JD(S) has thanked PM Modi and Piyush Goyal for supporting unlicensed tobacco farmers affected by heavy rains. Nikhil Kumaraswamy highlighted the intervention’s impact on the community's recovery, enabling sales without penalties and ensuring fair market prices.
Key Takeaways
- Karnataka JD(S) acknowledges PM Modi's support.
- Unlicensed tobacco farmers receive relief from penalties.
- Government actions address heavy rainfall damage.
- Farmers can sell excess tobacco without extra fees.
- Support extends to thousands of affected farmers.
Bengaluru, Feb 18 (NationPress) The Karnataka JD(S) unit has expressed its thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal for their assistance to the state’s unlicensed tobacco farmers who are grappling with difficulties due to excessive rainfall.
In a press release on Tuesday, the state President of the JD(S) Youth Wing, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who is also the son of Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, conveyed appreciation to Piyush Goyal for “permitting unlicensed tobacco farmers in areas such as Hunsur, Periyapatna, and H.D. Kote to market their crops and for dismissing penalties levied on them.”
He welcomed the Central Government’s decision, recalling that “on December 2, 2024, a delegation led by Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, met Union Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi to present a memorandum. This was succeeded by a vital meeting with senior officials from the Commerce Department on December 21.”
Nikhil Kumaraswamy also pointed out that the delegation comprised Mysuru-Kodagu BJP MP Yaduveer Wadiyar, former minister S.R. Mahesh, Hunsur MLA G.T. Harish Gowda, and members of the tobacco farming community.
He emphasized that “Karnataka’s tobacco farmers faced severe losses from excessive rainfall in May and July of last year, which caused a notable reduction in flue-cured Virginia tobacco yields and a drop in leaf quality. The Centre’s intervention will now offer relief to thousands of impacted farmers.”
“The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has implemented numerous landmark farmer-friendly policies, and this initiative to assist Karnataka’s tobacco farmers is one of them,” he added.
Discussing the implications of the Centre’s decision, he mentioned that “auction centers operating under the Tobacco Board will now facilitate the sale of surplus tobacco from registered farmers as well as unauthorized tobacco from unregistered farmers. Furthermore, farmers can attain fair and transparent market prices without incurring additional service fees.”
In Karnataka, FCV tobacco is cultivated across 53,325 hectares, with 40,487 registered farmers and 12,838 unlicensed growers. “This resolution will especially benefit the 12,838 unlicensed tobacco farmers,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, B.Y. Vijayendra, State President, expressed on social media, “Heartfelt thanks to Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji and Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal Ji for showing empathy and rescuing FCV tobacco growers who were in dire distress due to heavy rains in May, June, and July 2024.”
