Mysuru: Angry tobacco growers burnt their commercial crop and dumped it on the roads at several locations in Hunsur and Periyapatna taluks on Wednesday after a steep crash in tobacco prices.The protest was later withdrawn after officials assured the farmers that a meeting would soon be arranged with the district administration to discuss their concerns. Following the agitation, the tobacco auction at Kattemalavadi in Hunsur taluk was suspended.According to the protesting growers, the price of high-quality tobacco had dropped from Rs 315 per kg to Rs 260 in recent days. On Wednesday, when the price further fell to Rs 240, farmers began their protest, dumping the produce on the roads and setting it on fire.Farmers said they were receiving an average of only Rs 230 per kg. Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha general secretary Ramegowda, who led the protest, said the prices had fallen below production cost. “Tobacco growers are in a dire situation, and both the state and Union govts must intervene,” he urged.
