AP Farmers Harvest 54m kg of Burley, Country Tobacco

Source from:  Chandrasekhar / Chennai/ Guntur September 12, 2006  09/12/2006

Farmers of Andhra Pradesh harvested 53.9 million kg of Burley and country (natu) tobacco crops worth Rs 120 crore this year. These tobacco varieties are different from flue-cured Virginia tobacco (FCV) and contain high nicotine compared to the latter tobacco. They are used as blends in cigarettes and other tobacco products. Of the 22 million kg crop of sun-cured black soil HDBRG (Harvel Dio Baixo Rio Grande), farmers disposed of 19 million kg at an average price of Rs 18 per kg (top price Rs 24). The number one premium tobacco among Burley varieties, the crop is grown in 25,000 acres at Parchur in Prakasam district and at Takkellapadu and Vinukonda in Guntur district. Farmers would earn Rs 39.60 crore from this crop. Market sources put ITC brainchild and air-cured light soil Burley tobacco harvest grown in Vinokonda area at 4.5 million kg. Farmers sold this crop at an average price of Rs 28 per kg (top price Rs 30) and earned Rs 12.6 crore. About 5.5 million kg of number two premium crop and light soil Yeleswaram Burley tobacco fetched farmers Rs 18.70 crore at an average price of Rs 34 per kg. Fresh crop has already been planted in 20,000 acres in the Parvatipuram agency area. The Warangal Burley harvest, developed by Vazir Sultan Tobacco (VST) in Warangal district, has been calculated at 4.5 million kg. Farmers received an average Rs 32 per kg and earned Rs 14.4 crore. This is a light soil number three premium variety. Farmers piled up 12 million of Eluru natu tobacco (country tobacco), a sun-cured variety, and sold 7 million kg of it at an average price of Rs 18 per kg (top price Rs 24). Farmers are expected to earn Rs 21.60 crore from this tobacco. Air-cured Kurnool natu tobacco harvest, grown in the VST development area, turned out to be around 4.2 million kg, bringing an income of Rs 10.08 crore to the farmers. Farmers also reaped 1.2 million kg of KFC (Kentucky fire-cured) tobacco, at Bodhan and Kurnool and earned Rs 3.12 crore at an average price of Rs 26. The crop is patronised by VST. Enditem