India: Tobacco Board Pegs Crop Size at 172 Million kg

Source from:  The Hindu  08/06/2014

The authorised crop size of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco for Andhra Pradesh during 2014-2015 is 172 million kg, Tobacco Board Chairman Koothati Gopal said here on Tuesday.

The Board has pegged the authorised size keeping in view of the commitment to FCV farmers on one side and the obligations the government has to regulate tobacco cultivation as India was a signatory to the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTV).

Mr. Gopal said the Board has been regulating the cultivation of Tobacco matching production and supply with the demand to maintain the prices on auction platforms. The Board has been relentlessly advocating the use of green manures to cut down the residues in bright varieties of tobacco. “We have designed an environmental engineering method where the growers are encouraged to change the crop pattern and grow intermediary crops. In a way, we have managed to drastically reduce the infections,’’ said Dr. Gopal at a press conference held on the Board office premises.

Amid price fluctuations caused by surplus crop, the lengthiness of auctions and carryover stocks, the Board has ensured that the farmers get better remunerative prices. The highest price recorded was Rs.176 per kg and the highlight of this year auctions has been higher prices being commanded by even low grade varieties.

Out of 178 million kg of FCV produced in Andhra Pradesh, 25.84 million kg still remains to be sold. The Tobacco exports touched Rs.1,260 crore and are well on course to exceed Rs.6,000 crore recorded in 2013.

Dr. Gopal also said the Board has been actively working with the State government to encourage farmers to opt for alternative crops. The board would continue to be committed to farmers and traders, but keeping in view of the global trends, efforts have been on to regulate the tobacco crop size, he added. Enditem