Most of the farmers in Karnataka and a substantial number in Andhra Pradesh – the two major Virginia tobacco-growing States – are willing to give up tobacco, provided the Union Government pays them adequate compensation to switch over to alternative crops.
This was stated by Mr G. Kamalavardhana Rao, Chairman of the Tobacco Board, at the two-day conference on alternative crops to tobacco which concluded in the Central Tobacco Research Institute here on Tuesday.
In Andhra Pradesh in 2008, more than 2,500 farmers had come forward with a proposal to give up tobacco cultivation and go in for alternative crops, seeking Rs 5 lakh compensation per barn. He said the issue had been referred to the Union Commerce Ministry.
In Karnataka, too, farmers have voiced a similar demand, he said.
He said Brazil and Zimbabwe were having huge stocks of 200-300 million kg (mkg) of tobacco and it was worrisome to the trade, farmers and the board in India.
The coming years would, therefore, be difficult to everyone and farmers should, therefore, strictly adhere to the prescribed crop size both in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Efforts would be made to regulate the crop size and ensure remunerative prices to the farmer.
Auctions
Mr Kamalavardhana Rao said tobacco auctions in Andhra Pradesh were in the conclusive phase and so far 162 mkg of crop had been sold in the State at an average price of Rs 94 a kg.
In Karnataka, auctions had commenced on September 15 and they would conclude by January 15.
He said the Karnataka farmers had grown 108 mkg of crop against the authorised crop size of 100 mkg.
During the previous season, farmers in Karnataka had grown almost 128 mkg, and the surplus had been reduced substantially this season, thanks to the efforts of the Tobacco Board.
Dr V. Krishnamurthy, the Director of the CTRI, said the area under tobacco should be brought down and in unsuitable soils it should be given up, but the productivity and quality should be improved.