The delay in the arrival of the north-east monsoon and drought conditions in Nellore and Prakasam districts have affected Virginia tobacco plantation in Andhra Pradesh and, as a result, there may not be any surplus production in the State in 2016-17.

According to Tobacco Board authorities here, the board has fixed a crop size of 130 million kg for the State this year.

Delayed plantation The drought conditions in Prakasam and Nellore in the southern light soils (SLS) have delayed plantation. Late plantation will not only hit the yields but affect the quality of the crop in these parts, it is said.

In the southern black soils of Prakasam district, farmers are still hopeful that they can take up plantation even if it rains in the near future. Late plantation will not have as much impact on the yields and quality in these soils.

The crop outlook in the northern light soils (NLS) of West Godavari district is normal and reasonably good, according to sources. There are irrigation facilities for the crop in these parts.

Tobacco production has come down drastically in East Godavari district in recent times and there is only one auction platform (Torredu) in the district. There has been substantial reduction of the crop in Krishna and Guntur districts as well.

In Karnataka, where auctions are going on at present, the Tobacco Board has fixed a crop size of 95 million kg and the actual production may be a little lesser. So far, 24 million kg of tobacco has been sold on the auction floors of the State at an average price of ₹124.79 a kg.

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