(a) whether the Government are aware of the falling prices of tobacco;
(b) if so, the extent to which prices of tobacco have been declined during the last three years, yeare-wise;
(c) whether the Government have intervened through Tobacco Board to arrest the falling prices of tobacco; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY )
(a) & (b): The prices of tobacco over the past few years have been fluctuating. This is illustrated by the average prices realised by the tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, which have been as follows :
Year Andhra Pradesh Karnataka Avg. Price (Rs./Kg.)Avg. Price (Rs./Kg.)
1998 40.12 34.47 1999 34.85 42.07 2000 32.15 55.04 2001 Crop Holiday 38.29