Nellore: Traffic on National Highway-16 came to a standstill for some time on Wednesday after members of the Kisan Morcha Farmers' Association staged a road blockade in Ongole, demanding remunerative prices for tobacco and immediate government intervention to support distressed farmers. The protesters alleged that tobacco growers are suffering heavy losses due to poor prices despite cultivating the crop at high cost. The farmers also urged the state government to allocate `1,000 crore for tobacco procurement and financial relief, alleging that assurances made by the ruling dispensation to support farmers have not been fulfilled. Rejecting the idea of bonus payments, the protesters demanded direct financial support through a dedicated procurement fund instead. Police intervened, dispersed the protesters, and took several farmer leaders into preventive custody, restoring traffic on the busy national highway.