Eluru MP Calls on Centre to Address Farmers’ Concerns Over Tobacco and Oil Palm

Fast Summary

• Eluru MP putta Mahesh Kumar met Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi.
• Issues discussed:

– Virginia Tobacco Farmers: Andhra Pradesh farmers produced 80 million kg of Virginia tobacco for the 2024-25 crop year, but only 60 million kg was permitted for sale by the Center. As of now, only 35 million kg has been procured. The MP requested permission to sell additional stocks beyond the ceiling.
– Oil palm Farmers: Domestic oil palm producers face losses due to reductions in import duties on crude palm oil.The MP urged maintaining crude palm oil prices at ₹1,25,000 per tonne to safeguard farmer incomes.

• Piyush Goyal assured that the goverment would evaluate the possibility of additional tobacco sales permissions with minimal penalties.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The issues raised highlight meaningful challenges faced by agricultural sectors in West Godavari district and Andhra Pradesh at large. For virginia tobacco growers, restrictive sale limits may impact their livelihoods heavily; lifting such restrictions could enhance economic stability for these farmers who rely on global trade and domestic procurement systems. conversely, reduction in import duties for crude palm oil threatens domestic production competitiveness-potentially discouraging local cultivation efforts amidst financial uncertainty.

Coordination between state and central authorities is crucial to resolving these matters effectively while balancing international trade policies with local agricultural interests. Any decision regarding sales permissions or pricing guarantees will need careful consideration to minimize adverse effects while ensuring farmer welfare remains prioritized.

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