Farmers advised against excess tobacco production

Area under tobacco cultivation decreases by 12 per cent

Guntur: Considering the global tobacco situation, Tobacco Board in its revised production policy has stressed for vertical expansion of tobacco cultivation by increasing the per hectare productivity and quality of tobacco, while regulating the horizontal expansion of area under tobacco, Tobacco Board Chairman Koothati Gopal said in a press statement.

The Tobacco Board had made all efforts to educate growers and dissuade them from planting excess areas than authorised due to a glut in the international situation. Due to effective production regulation campaign, the area under tobacco in AP had come down by 12% over last year, Gopal stated.

Keeping in view the paramount importance of providing "Clean and quality tobacco" to the world market to augment exports, the Board has initiated various extension and developmental activities to improve the yield, quality, integrity and sustainability of tobacco cultivation. Soil and water sampling and green manuring were advocated to ensure Integrated Nutrient Management.

Tobacco Board had made timely supply of quality inputs by arranging input loans of Rs 102.65 crore at zero per cent interest rate in AP and Rs 94.46 crore at 4 per cent interest rate in Karnataka through commercial banks (Total: Rs. 313.98 crore) In all, 40,539 tonnes of fertilizers valued at Rs 84.91 crore were supplied in AP and 45,130 metric tonnes valued at Rs.87.20 crore in Karnataka, during 2014-15.

Total tobacco and tobacco product exports between April and November 2014 were 1,54,746 metric tonnes valued at Rs.3,476.09 crore (US$ 574.66 Million) as against Rs 6,059 crore worth of exports of last year, Tobacco Board Chairman revealed.

It is estimated that total tobacco and tobacco product exports during 2014-15 will surpass last year exports. During the past two years, the production of FCV tobacco had been increasing in major tobacco producing countries like the USA, Brazil and Zimbabwe resulting in supply exceeding demand. International cigarette manufacturers are reportedly holding huge carryover stocks. Fall in consumption of tobacco in developed countries and consequent reduction in demand for tobacco is causing a serious concern for tobacco growers. Crisis in major import markets like Russia because of Rouble devaluation is adding to this problem. In this background, any excess production will lead to a glut in the market. Production of quality tobacco commensurate with demand is the only way out, the Tobacco Board Chairman felt.

The Tobacco Board has released a New Year calendar on Monday for the benefit of farmers in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in Telugu and Kannada. The calendar is highly informative and contains guidelines on growing quality tobacco crop. It is supplied free of cost to the farmers.