SWABI: Differences have surfaced in the unions of tobacco growers about giving crop status to it by the federal government, sources said.

They said that rift among the growers delayed the campaign, which some unions of the framers wanted to launch for giving crop status to tobacco in the end of March.

Kisan Board (KB), the farmer wing of Jamaat-i-Islami, held a meeting with JI provincial chief Mushtaq Ahmad Khan in Peshawar on Saturday and apprised him of the policy of someunions and their meetings with Asad Qaisar, the speaker of National Assembly, and federal commerce ministry officials, sources said.

They said that two committees, one each of National Assembly and Senate, were expected to finalise their recommendations, which would be presented to Prime Minister Imran Khan.

However, KB leaders told Senator Mushtaq that if the crop status was given to tobacco, it would culminate in ending the tobacco marketing law, MLO 487, which was introduced by then governor of the province, Gen Fazal-iHaq, said the sources.

They said that with ending ofthe tobacco marketing law, the companies would have free hand to purchase the crop at their desired rate. They added that growers would remain completely at the mercy of companies if tobacco was given crop status and marketing law was abolished.

Sources said that other unions that supported the move claimed that giving crop status should be given to tobacco and it should be made provincial subject as wheat crop was subject of Punjab province.

They said that marketing law was adopted when the tobacco growers and companies clashed with each other and provincial government demanded that theissue should be addressed by the federal government but it was told to handle the affairs because the crop was grown in the province.

`When the crop becomes a provincial subject, no one would disturb the marketing law rather more laws are expected to be enacted for the crop,` they claimed.

Sources said that one of the group insisted that the companies wanted to get the marketing law abolished by supporting the move.

The other group said that the companies opposed the move and used powers to end the struggle of the growers.

`The growers are confused about suppordng or opposing the campaign` said sources.