COMMENTARY
INTERVIEWS
SPECIALS
CHAT
ARCHIVES

Russia to import Rs 25 bn worth tobacco from India

The Russian government has agreed in principle to import Rs 25 billion worth tobacco from India, Union Commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hegde said today.

Hegde held talks with Russia's prime minister and commerce minister who visited the country last month.

Addressing tobacco growers at Hunsur, Karnataka, Hegde assured them that their problems would be solved before January 15 and said he had convened a meeting of Tobacco Board chairman, secretary and chairmen of cigarette manufacturing companies to discuss the problems of the growers.

He also assured tobacco growers that short-term loans availed by them would be converted into long-term loans. Steps were already taken in this direction, he added.

He warned the tobbaco purchasers that alternative arrangements would be made if they failed to attend the market yards for purchase. "Government should not be blamed for the consequences."

He also advised the tobacco growers to hear the suggestions of experts before taking up cultivation. They should not exceed the registered areas and if they go on increasing the production more than the demand, it would naturally affect the prices. The commercial crops should be taken up only on the experts suggestions made in the interest of the farmers, and their safeguard, he added.

UNI

Business news