The Hindu Business Line : Tobacco industry aims to double exports

"Exports are growing at 16 per cent. We are confident of growing at 16-20 per cent," Mr Ch. Narendranath, President of Indian Tobacco Association, said. "Our main focus is on exports," he said.

He told reporters on the sidelines of the four-day national conference here on Tuesday that the message on good manufacturing practices (GMP) was being spread among the farmers.

He urged the Government to increase incentives in order to boost exports. "Currently, we are getting two per cent DEPB (duty entitlement pass book). This should go up," he said, citing subsidies of up to 80 per cent in some countries. The industry also wanted tobacco to be included in agricultural processing zones. "We have appealed to the Government to declare Guntur and Prakasam districts as exclusive zones," he said. In Andhra Pradesh, the association targeted to achieve 130 million kg next year as against the target of 108 mkg last year. The association, however, expected to cross 160 m kg, keeping in mind the bumper crop size of 152 m kg this year.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
SBI, Dabur sign MoU to finance farmers

Agriculture knows no caste

`We are pushing for decontrol' — Ms Rajshree Pathy, President, Indian Sugar Mills Association

Small onion prices likely to be unchanged

Rubber gains further as low arrivals continue

Castorseed falls on prospects of good crop

Indonesia palm oil exports to India up 30 pc in Jan-May

Tobacco players pitch for higher productivity

Tobacco industry aims to double exports

`Tea competition has potential to sustain penchant for quality'

`Water management key to agricultural growth'

Unshredded metal scrap imports from Bandar Abbas barred