Tobacco auctions in Andhra Pradesh are on at a sluggish pace this season and so far only 18 million kg (mkg) of the crop (the authorised size being 172 mkg) havebeen sold on the 19 auction floors at an average price of ₹114 a kg.

Auctions in Karnataka concluded by the end of April and it was expected that the trading would pick up on AP floors after that but that has not happened. It is said that export orders have not been confirmed yet and the trade participation is, therefore, not to the desired extent.

In Karnataka, 103.50 mkg were sold at an average price of ₹107.49 and there was no surplus. In AP, it is estimated, that there may be a surplus of 15 mkg or so in addition to the authorised 172 mkg.

As the auctions have not yet picked up, farmers are not bringing the bright grades to the floors.

They are hoping that the situation would improve soon. In the prevailing market conditions, it becomes very difficult for the farmers in the black cotton soils to sell their crop.

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