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The Tobacco Board has lowered Karnataka's crop size by 3 per cent to 98 million kg (mkg) for the crop year 2012-13.
“The board took the decision to lower the State's crop size keeping in mind the global demand supply position, unsold stock which has piled up in the country and to facilitate good remunerative prices for farmers,” Mr G. Kamalavardhana Rao, Tobacco Board Chairman, told Business Line.
“The Board has also taken in account India's commitment to World Trade Organisation (WTO) objectives of cutting tobacco production in a phase manner,“ he added.
A decision to this effect was taken at the full board meeting of the Board held at Bangalore today.
Tobacco Board, for the past two years (2011-12 and 2010-11), had maintained Karnataka's tobacco production at around 100 mkg. As last year, the Board is planning to initiate stringent steps to curb unauthorised cultivation.
Karnataka is the second largest producer of tobacco after Andhra Pradesh, has 85,000 hectares under tobacco cultivation which, on an average, produces 120 million kg annually.
The crop in the State is grown mainly in the southern and Malnad taluks such as Mysore, Hassan and Shimoga districts. According to the board's estimates, there are about 40,000 registered growers.
At the end of the 155 days of auction, about 108 mkg (100.42 lakh bales) of FCV tobacco variety have been marketed in Karnataka, with an average price of Rs 92.16 a kg.
Of the total quantity marketed, bright grades comprised 21.29 per cent (22 mkg) and were traded at an average price of Rs 119.21 a kg. Medium grades comprised 50.16 per cent (52 mkg)and were traded at an average price of Rs 101.22. Low grades, comprised 28.56 per cent (30 mkg) and fetched an average price of Rs 58.21.
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