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Tobacco auctions in Andhra Pradesh have gathered momentum in the past 2-3 weeks and so far 103 million kg of the crop has been sold in the State at an average price of Rs 98.99 a kg.
According to Mr V. Kannaiah, Manager (auctions), the performance is comparatively better than last year when it took 124 days to market a similar quantity. He said that the average price was, however, slightly higher last year at Rs 101.50 a kg.
He said exports orders had been received by the trade and therefore, auctions had picked up momentum of late. “We are confident of completing the auction process in Andhra Pradesh by August 15 this year. Last year, the last auction day was October 13,” he said.
He said the Tobacco Board had authorised a crop size of 162 mkg in Andhra Pradesh, but the actual crop may be 164 mkg. The surplus in the State was negligible. He said in Karnataka, where currently tobacco plantation was going on, the board had authorised a crop size of 98 million kgs, but the progress of plantation was not fast, as the monsoon was not encouraging. Mr Kannaiah said that the tobacco grown in West Godavari district in the northern light soils (NLS) was fetching a maximum of Rs 131 a kg, the highest in the State.
The average price so far was Rs 115.25 a kg in the NLS against last year's Rs 118.69. Against a target of 49 mkg, NLS farmers had grown 55 mkg.
“The auctions are on an even keel now and we are sure there will not be any problem,” he said.
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