Stating that tobacco farmers are facing several challenges in the country, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya today said their problems, including larger pictorial warning on tobacco packs, will be discussed with the concerned ministries.
Addressing a group of tobacco farmers from South India here, the Minister said, "I am told tobacco farmers are committing suicides. You (farmers) would not have come to Delhi had your problems not been that serious. I understand your concerns."
Dattatreya, who is from Telangana, assured that he will discuss with Health, Commerce and Agriculture ministers the issue related to health warning on tobacco packs as well as livelihood concerns of tobacco farmers in the wake of falling demand of tobacco.
The government has issued notification making it mandatory for companies to put pictorial warning on 85 per cent of the tobacoo packs from April 1, 2016, which tobacco farmers say would hit demand especially at a time when imported tobacco products are on the rise.
Tobacco farmers were here to protest against the government's decision to implement the notification.
