Tobacco Board fixes Karnataka’s crop size at 104 million kg

The Tobacco Board has fixed Karnataka’s crop size at 104 million kg (mkg) for the crop year 2014-15.

The crop size for the State was fixed at the Board’s 137th meeting held in Bangalore.

“We arrived at the figure keeping in mind the quantity marketed last crop year (2013-14). Due to the good quality of the crop, nearly 80 per cent of the 102 mkg marketed was exported,” said a Tobacco Board official based in Mysore.

Tobacco Board, for the past two years, has been maintaining the State’s production at around 100 mkg.

The Board, while determining the crop size, took stock of the unauthorised crop as well. The meeting also decided to continue taking stringent measures to curb unauthorised cultivation.

The entire tobacco growing regions in the State - Mysore, Hassan and HD Kote - have received good rains. Growers have already commenced nursery preparation, said T Vikram Urs, Secretary, Federation of Karnataka Tobacco Growers’ Association.

Due to good rains, the area under tobacco is likely to increase this year. Last year, about 75,000 hectares came under tobacco. “This year, if we continue to get good rains at regularly interval, we may see total area touching 85,000 hectares,” he said.

Tobacco Board marketed 102.01 mkg against the authorised quantity of 99.38 mkg fixed for the crop year 2013-14.

At the end of the 155 days of auction, about 102.01 mkg (10.33 lakh bales) of FCV tobacco variety were marketed in the State, with an average price of ₹129.24 a kg (₹15 higher than last year).

Of the total quantity marketed, bright grades comprised 25.17 mkg with an average price of ₹163. Medium grades comprised 42.31 mkg at an average price of ₹145.38. Low grades comprised 34.52 mkg and were traded at an average price of ₹84.69/kg.