The Hindu Business Line : Karnataka farmers expect a price bonanza at tobacco auctions

Mysore, Sept. 6 Thanks to the astronomical prices witnessed at the recent Andhra Pradesh tobacco auctions, which made the Andhra Pradesh farmer laugh all the way to the bank, the average Karnataka farmer is pretty gung-ho about prices at the tobacco auctions in Karnataka set to begin from September10.

If the medium quality Andhra Pradesh crop can fetch an average price of around Rs 84 per kg, then the export quality Karnataka Light Soil FCV crop can easily fetch Rs 100 per kg, or even more, is the common refrain among Karnataka farmers. The clear expectation among senior farmers here is a figure close to Rs 120 per kg.

This may be the unwanted ‘Domino Effect’, but the incredulous Andhra Pradesh prices have truly set in motion not so simple a chain reaction. Unlike his Andhra Pradesh counterpart, a tobacco farmer in Karnataka typically has small holdings — less than 2 hectares each.

Tended fields

A recent tour of the lush green fields in areas like Periapatna and HD Kote in the Mysore tobacco-growing area gives one the impression that farmers here have tended to their fields extra carefully this time, compared to last year, in expectation of a price bonanza.

In some of the fields in Sargur village (HD Kote), even 75-year labour hands are seen working enthusiastically for that manna from heaven.

According to local senior farmers, an average increase of some 4,000 hectares (of tobacco crop) has taken place as a direct fallout of the record Andhra Pradesh prices.

Says Mr Vasanthkumar, a much-awarded progressive, senior farmer in Narashipura village (HD Kote area): “Grow best quality tobacco at any cost, never mind the high fertiliser and labour costs, and go for the jugular at the ensuing auctions.”

e-auctions

He says wilt-resistant seed varieties have been used with an eye on yields between 2,200 and 2,500 per kg per hectare. Topping and desuckering (of the plant) is done as a must for the big leaf which turns lemon orange in lower and orange in upper positions on maturity.

And as is expected, if the Tobacco Board ushers in e-auctions at the Mysore platforms this time, farmers are confident of much higher prices than in Andhra Pradesh.

Both industry and the farming community in Karnataka strongly favour e-auction, as it is felt that this will eliminate malpractices and bring in total transparency. The farmers in the know feel this is a pre-requisite for best prices to emerge.

Asked to comment, senior ILTD (Indian Leaf Tobacco Development) team members said industry was very much in favour of e-auction, as it would fetch the correct price for the hard-working farmers.

Productivity

Senior ITC-ILTD officials, in the midst of their annual crop survey in Mysore area for gauging the export potential of the crop this year, bet on higher productivity through adoption of good agri practices by the Karnataka farmers. Yields are said to have gone up by 15-20 per cent this year compared to the 2007 crop.

Elaborating on the ILTD project work in the area, they said steps like early plantation (before May end), 100 per cent tray seedlings for mainfield, topping at bud stage and proper Ripe leaf harvest and ‘kutcha’ baling, have contributed to higher yields per kg/ha.