Due to Tobacco Board's stringent registration norms and awareness drive in growing areas, the area under tobacco cultivation in Karnataka is set to shrink by 13.5 per cent.

The State's tobacco area this crop year (2011-12) is 1.03 lakh hectares, a decrease of 13.50 per cent compared to previous year.

In order to control unauthorised production, the Tobacco Board is working out a mechanism to check unregistered growers. As against 57,000 registered barns in the State, it is estimated that there are 42,000 unauthorised barns.

With a view to have a control on crop production in the State, the board has fixed 1,740 kg a barn and has also taken a decision to issue licence to RTCs (Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crops) holders only to weed out the unregistered growers.

The Tobacco Board Chairman, Mr G. Kamalavardhana Rao, last week toured the tobacco growing areas in Karnataka-Hunsur and Periyapatna.

Mr Rao, has cautioned farmers not to repeat and create a situation like last year where in excess area leads to excess production. “Due to this, output went up by 30 per cent higher than the authorized production of 100 million kg. This scenario left everybody with higher production and lesser demand in the market.”

“The tobacco crop for 2011-12 is good but moderate. This year's crop is currently at nursery/plantation phase and is delayed by 15 days, due to erratic rainfall in the region,” said Mr K.N. Vishakantaiah, Regional Manager, Tobacco Board.

“Good amount of moisture and rains in July can improve the crop condition,” he added.

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