Farmers of central Gujarat’s tobacco belt are planning protest against what they allege a cartel of tobacco traders exploiting them.

Farmers of about a dozen villages of central Gujarat’s Savli-Mevas belt on Tuesday gathered in a meeting and alleged that tobacco traders have formed a cartel and they want to exploit the farmers by offering lower rates.

Farmers of Savli, Pipalchhet, Limdi and other villages complained that tobacco crop has remained unsold this year. They alleged that they can not grow anything else but tobacco because this is the variety which needs comparatively lesser water which is suitable to Savli-Mevas belt because it has little or no surface water irrigation facility available.

Angry and frustrated farmers told media persons that while Gurkha packets are sold in black for double prices, the farmers are getting nothing out of it. On the contrary the traders ask farmers that in July 2011 the Supreme Court of India will be banning tobacco, and therefore the farmers will get nothing, therefore they should sell their yield now at whatever prices they are offered.