SWABI: Officials of the purchasing companies have advised the tobacco farmers against growing surplus crop during the current year.

They told Dawn on Tuesday the companies had slashed their quota for the current year.

They said that the growers had against reverted to growing tobacco after they were unable to even cover up the costs incurred on wheat production as official wheat rates were slashed drastically.

Sources said the growers were again in dire straits as the companies were asking them to avoid any surplus produce.

The sources said two multinational buyers – Pakistan Tobacco Company and Phillips Morris International – and a few national tobacco-purchasing companies were executing agreements with the growers.

They said that small cigarette manufactures avoided executing agreements, and usually waited for scenarios where they had the chance to exploit the growers when they were left with surplus produce.

The sources said Pakistan Tobacco Board should intervene to allay the fears of the tobacco growers.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2025