`The result is that the benefits promised by the prime minister have not percolated to the tobacco farmers,' leader of tobacco growers and former Rajya Sabha member, Y Shivaji told PTI here today.

He charged the STC with going back on its promise to pay the 1997 price (Rs 37 per kg) with a hike of 15 per cent towards the inflation and to enter all tobacco auction centres in the state.

`But now they are paying only the 1996-97 price and it was only Rs 28 per kg and they entered only five auction platforms in the state,' he said adding the STC was buying only 25 per cent of the stock offered for sales.

He lashed out at the bureaucracy for their `unsympathetic attitude' and recounted that concerned at the declining prices of tobacco, the prime minister had directed the STC to enter the market tohelp distressed tobacco growers.

Because of the bureaucracy's attitude, the benefit of Rs 50 crore allotted to the STC by the prime minister for buying tobacco was not reaching the farmers.

He expressed fear that that due to the onset of monsoon, the quality of tobacco in the make-shift auction platforms would deteriorate.