Andhra Pradesh: Tobacco growers a disappointed lot over per barn quota

Various grades of the crop have been drawing record prices in recent auctions

The Tobacco Board has enhanced the cultivation quota for farmers in the traditional tobacco growing areas in Prakasam and Nellore districts by 8.63 million kg to 89.35 million kg in the 2022-23 cropping season.

However, the new quota for cultivation of flue-cured virginia (FCV) tobacco has come as a bit of a disappointment for the growers who have demanded an increase in crop size from 80.72 million kg to 107 million kg in the Southern Black Soil and Southern Light Soil regions.

Tobacco farming is now a rage in the two districts in the wake of record prices for various grades of tobacco. It is not just ‘bedroom bales’ that interested traders. Even low-grade varieties attracted traders following a favourable demand-supply situation in the international market during the 2021-22 season.

‘’We are in a compelling position to cut costs on the one hand and be competitive as we cater to the global market. This will be possible only with favourable economies of scale,” said a group of farmers coming under the Ongole-II auction platform. Farmers have demanded a per barn quota of 40 quintals. However, the crop regulator had fixed a quota of 35.50 quintals per barn in the SBS region and a slightly higher quota of 36.50 quintals per barn in the SLS region.

Individual farmers have been allowed to grow up to a maximum of 19 hectares in the SBS region and 29 hectares in the SLS region, according to Tobacco Board sources.

“We will have to incur additional expenses on curing,” rued a farmer B. Ramanjayaneyulu. Leaf production depended upon the vagaries of nature. Though the crop regulator allowed a crop size of 80.72 million kg last year, actual production fell short by 5.86 million kg as they were forced to grapple with unseasonal rains, explained another farmer V.V. Prasad.