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The Tobacco Board has increased Karnataka’s crop size by four per cent to 102 million kg (mkg) for the crop year 2013-14.
A decision to this effect was taken at the full board meeting held recently. The trade had demanded 112 mkg and growers request was for around 105 mkg.
“Keeping the annual demand projection in mind in addition to companies’ interest, we have hiked Karnataka’s crop size by four per cent,” K. Gopal, Tobacco Board Chairman, told Business Line .
“Last year (2012), there was good global demand for Indian crop especially tobacco grown in light soils,” he added
The board had fixed 98 mkg for crop year 2012-13 and 100 mkg for crop year 2011-12 for Karnataka, a major producer of flue cured Virginia tobacco after Andhra Pradesh.
The crop is cultivated in about 85,000 hectares and on an average, produces 120 mkg annually.
Tobacco is mainly cultivated in Mysore, Hassan and Shimoga districts.
According to the board’s estimates, there are about 40,000 registered growers. B.V. Javare Gowda, President, Karnataka Tobacco Growers Association, said “The board should have fixed much higher crop for Karnataka keeping in mind good planting material available to growers.”
“Due to improved farming practices and good climatic conditions, growers are increasingly getting higher yields on their lands every year. For no fault of theirs they shouldn’t be penalised,” he added.
The growers have also demanded that the Tobacco Board should lower penalty for excess grown tobacco in the State.
“Keeping in mind the ill effect of excess production, we have been appealing to the growers to restrict the crop size as per target by the board,” said K.N. Vishakantaiah, Tobacco Board Regional Manager.
“This advise from the board is in the larger interest of tobacco growing community, failing this warning, they will have to face difficulties at the time of marketing their produce and end up not realising remunerative prices,” he added.
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