II. Extension and Developmental Schemes for improvement of yield & quality tobacco:
i. Farm Mechanization- PVC/HDPE Pipes:
To mitigate the drought problems in standing FCV tobacco crop in Southern region of Andhra Pradesh, Tobacco Board arranged distribution of 17690 units of HDPE pipes to 926 tobacco growers for facilitating life saving irrigation.
ii. Production of healthy seedlings - Tray seedlings technology and installation of shade nets:
Tray nursery technique is standardized in FCV tobacco cultivation to produce healthy tobacco seedlings to overcome soil borne disease problem, to withstand transplantation shocks, ensuring crop uniformity and which in turn improves crop yield and quality.
During 2024-25 crop season, 19,19,685 trays were supplied to 7685 growers in Karnataka and 8,79,568 trays were supplied to 1915 growers in Andhra Pradesh by extending a subsidy of 25% to SC/ST growers and a subsidy of 15 % to Other category growers.
iii. Improving soil health – Supply of Green Manure Seeds:
Tobacco Board arranged for supply of Sunhemp green manure seed to farmers well in advance, before commencement of crop season for improvement of soil fertility, structure and texture. Board has taken up the task of green manuring on a priority basis and has made mandatory that registered growers shall take up sowing of green manure crop one acre per one barn for getting registered/ renewing their registration in every crop season.
During 2024-25 crop season, green manure crop was raised in an area of 1197 ha in Karnataka and 24749.38 ha. in Andhra Pradesh. Board extended subsidy of Rs.4,87,744 lakh to 2110 growers of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states towards the supply of 48774.40 kgs of green manure (Sunhemp) seed.
iv. Integrated Pest Management practices:
a. Pheromone and Yellow Sticky traps:
Board facilitated the supply of 19244 Pheromone Traps and lures to 1222 growers and 16859 Yellow Sticky Traps to 1314 growers for monitoring pest population in tobacco fields and extended 50% subsidy both in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
b. Bio Pesticides:
Bio pesticides were supplied to the licensed FCV tobacco growers by procuring from NIPHM, Hyderabad, so as to prevent the incidence of soil borne diseases and which would reduce the use of chemical pesticides.
During 2024-25 crop season, 692 lts of Bio pesticides were supplied to 692 growers in Karnataka and 3703 lts of Bio pesticides were supplied to 834 growers in NLS region by extending a subsidy of 50% to all category growers.
c. Bio Fertilizers:
A quantity of 736 lts of Potassium Releasing Bacteria (KRB) culture procured from NIPHM, Hyderabad and supplied to growers of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. KRB can solubulise the insoluble Potassium present in the soil and make available easily to plants and thereby the dependence on Potash fertilizers will reduce. Growers who were supplied with KRB cultures gave positive feedback that the application of KRB has improved the crop quality.
d. Marigold seedlings:
Marigold seedlings can be planted around tobacco field or within field as a trap crop since marigold flowers attracts Heliothis moths to lay eggs which aids in monitoring of pest incidence and thereby help prevention of the tobacco crop from Heliothis infestation. Marigold plants also can aid in control of nematode infestation.
During 2024-25 crop season, Board procured 3,35,000 marigold seedlings from NIRCA Research stations and distributed among FCV tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh and 1,85,000 marigold seedlings to growers in Karnataka at free of cost.
e. Jowar and Bajra seeds:
Jowar and Bajra sown as Border crop in 4 rows around tobacco crop acts as a guard crop from whitefly attack and acts as a refuge for parasites and predators.
During 2024-25 crop season, Board procured 489 kgs of Bajra seed and 567 kgs of Jowar seeds from the Karnataka State Seed Corporation (KSSC Ltd), Government of Karnataka and supplied to growers of KLS region at free of cost.
v. Energy Conservation measures:
Conservation of fuel wood usage can be achieved in FCV tobacco curing process at grower level by Energy Conservation measures like installation of Venturi furnace and barn roof insulation with glass wool/paddy straw along with Turbo ventilator fixation.
Scheme for replacing traditional furnace with Venturi Furnace (Improved design of furnace):
During 2024-25 crop season, Board has implemented this scheme in Andhra Pradesh in collaboration with trade. Venturi furnaces were fixed in 172 barns and a subsidy of Rs.5000/- per barn was extended to 243 growers.
a. Glass wool Roof Insulation along with fixing of Turbo ventilator of barns:
The total cost of glass wool roof insulation and fitting of turbo ventilator which can save fuel wood up to 25-27% is Rs.34,375.47/- per barn in traditional soil and Rs.30,274.97/- per barn in NLS for 16X20 size.
During 2024-25 crop season, Board has implemented this scheme in Andhra Pradesh in collaboration with trade by extending a financial assistance of Rs.9000/- for 16x20 barn in SLS and SBS regions. 302 no. of grower beneficiaries had taken up Glass wool roof insulation and fitted with turbo ventilator in 261 barns.
b. Paddy straw roof Insulation along with fixing of Turbo ventilator:
The total cost of paddy straw roof insulation is Rs.16,813.94/- per barn for 13X13 size and Rs.20,126.46/- per barn for 16X16 size. This technology can save on an average a fuel by 30%.
Board has implemented this scheme in 1255 barns in collaboration with trade by extending subsidy @ Rs.5000/barn for 13X13 size and Rs.7500/barn for 16X16 size to growers in Karnataka.
c. “Grow your own fuel” Scheme – supply of fast growing tree saplings:
To promote raising of fast growing tree saplings (Agro forestry plantation); to create sustainable source of wood for the farming community and to address environmental concerns of FCV tobacco curing, Tobacco Board has supplied saplings of fast growing trees at free of cost to the registered growers who are willing to take up plantations at their barn sites, barren land and field bunds. The Auction Superintendents have distributed 10410 no. of tree saplings to 1137 growers in Andhra Pradesh and 17740 no. of tree saplings to 1799 growers in Karnataka and also participated in planting along with farmers.
vi. POST HARVEST PRODUCT MANAGEMENT – MEASURES FOR PRODUCT INTEGRITY
a. Elimination of Non Tobacco Related Materials (NTRMs) – Supply of Canvas Tarpaulins:
Board has supplied 3448 canvas tarpaulins to 3448 growers in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to avoid NTRMs at leaf harvesting, transporting, curing,
storage and grading of cured leaf by extending a subsidy of Rs.1000/tarpaulin for Other category growers and Rs.1400/tarpaulin for SC/ST growers for
24’ x 18’ size. In Karnataka, Subsidy amount of Rs.1200/- per tarpaulin for SC/ST growers and Rs.800/- per tarpaulin for Other category growers for 24’ x 12’size
b. Construction of Bulking sheds/Model Storage Facilities:
Board has encouraged growers to go for construction of bulking sheds/storage facilities by extending financial assistance and necessary credit through Commercial banks.
In Andhra Pradesh, during 2024-25 crop season, Tobacco Board has extended financial assistance @ Rs.9,100/- to Rs.22,400/- per unit towards construction of 105 no. of bulk sheds depending up on the size of bulk shed.
c. Monitoring and control of CPA (Crop Protection Agents) residues in leaf tobacco:
During 2024-25 crop season, 102 no. of cured leaf samples from Karnataka crop and 169 no. of leaf samples from Andhra Pradesh were analysed for CPA residues to monitor the pesticide residues in cured tobacco.
Tobacco Board is undertaking analysis of leaf samples of NLS region in order to identify problematic areas/villages. Based on results hot spot areas of pesticide usage were identified and specific interventions are being taken up to restrict reoccurrence of CPA residues above GRL.
d. Leaf chemistry analysis of leaf tobacco for nicotine, sugars and chlorides:
Tobacco Board undertakes the leaf chemistry analysis of leaf tobacco in every crop season for determining the content of Nicotine, Sugars and Chlorides so as to determine the quality of leaf grown during the particular season and establish the crop chemistry.
During 2023-24 crop season, 6 leaf samples and 2024-25 crop season, 102 leaf samples were analysed in Karnataka and in Andhra Pradesh during 2023-24 crop season 107 cured leaf samples were analysed for leaf chemistry. Leaf chemistry results are satisfactory as per the region wise FCV tobacco analyzed.