III. TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY:

i. Training programmes to farmers and Technical staff:

 During 2024-25 crop season, Board has organized 156 training programmes to the farmers in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka at different stages of crop growth from Nursery Management to Crop harvesting, curing and on farm storage to create awareness on Good Agricultural Practices. A total no. of 7790 participants (growers/staff) have participated in these training programmes.    

v  The Scientists of NIPHM, Hyderabad visited Auction Platforms in NLS and KLS regions and imparted training to growers/staff on mass multiplication procedures of Bio pesticides, Bio fertilizers and use of bio pesticides and Potassium Releasing Bacteria (KRB) formulations in FCV tobacco cultivation.

The brief particulars are as follows:

 v  In house training programme for two days was conducted by NIPHM Scientists from Hyderabad on “Plant Health Management” and  “On farm training for identification of pest and disease symptoms and nutrient deficiencies”  at  Regional Managers office, Ongole. A total no. of 84 Outsourcing Technical staff and 49 growers have attended the programme on 26.12.2024 and  27.12.2024.

 v  One day training programme on operation of newly developed leaves stringing machine to tobacco growers and technical staff was conducted by the ICAR- Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering (CIAE) at Coimbatore on 24.01.2025.

 v  Capacity building programme on “Promotion of tobacco and tobacco product exports to foreign countries and its impediments”for Tobacco Board Officials was conducted by the National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM), at Hyderabad on 28.01.2025.

 v  A high impact meeting with all stakeholders was conducted at Koyyalagudem Auction Platform on 30.01.2025 to educate growers about the control of CPA residues in FCV tobacco.

 iii. Workshops:

          During 2024-25 crop season, Regional Managers in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka organized workshops on “Good Agricultural Practices in tobacco cultivation” to the growers and staff.

 iv. Study tours.

 Tobacco Board has organized study tour to 355 farmers/staff from all the 16 Auction platforms under Andhra Pradesh jurisdiction  to visit ITC-Tobacco Leaf Threshing plant, Anaparthy, BK Threshing plant, Singarayakonda, M/s ITC Ltd-ABD, Chirala, Alliance One Industries, Pottur in the months of January to March -2025.  88 farmers and staff from 10 Auction platforms in Karnataka have visited Green Leaf Threshing plant of M/s ITC Ltd, Nanjangud on 13.12.24 and 14.12.24.

 The details of tours of region wise are mentioned below:

  v. Field Friend Teams:

 The Tobacco Board has constituted Field Friends teams with Scientists from NIRCA, field executives of major companies and Board’s Technical Officers and extended timely advises and suggestions to the growers on different aspects of tobacco cultivation. 

vi. On farm Tests and Experimental Trials:

 Tobacco Board has implemented “On Farm Tests and Experimental Trials” on impact of Natural Farming mode of FCV tobacco cultivation, varietal trials to test the efficacy of new varieties in comparison with existing varieties and for evaluation of the impact of KRB (Potassium Releasing Bacteria) application on crop quality and yield.

          Board has incurred an expenditure of Rs.1.998 lakhs for Karnataka and Rs.3.164 lakhs in Andhra Pradesh towards the financial incentives, extended to the growers taking up trials  as an encouragement for conducting the on farm trials in their fields and also for organizing field day programmes.

          An incentive amount of Rs.5000/- per grower was extended to 23 growers towards the production of quality produce in trial plots with very low to nil CPA residues.

 vii. Model Project Area :

 Board has implemented Model Project Area scheme in 16 villages in Andhra Pradesh  and  10 villages in Karnataka to encourage farmers in these areas to adopt Good Agricultural  Practices to enhance productivity and quality of FCV tobacco in a focused manner. Trade was also involved in developmental activities in MPA villages.

 Financial assistance / input subsidies from Board are being credited into the individual saving bank accounts of growers through ‘Direct Benefit Transfer’ (DBT) mode.

 viii. Research Projects:

Presentation on the following Ongoing / completed Research projects of Extension Section was given by the Director and Scientists from ICAR-NIRCA (CTRI), Rajahmundry on 24.04.2024.

 Development and evaluation of Solar thermal energy based FCV tobacco curing system.

1. Evaluation of Loose Leaf Barn (LLB) for reducing the wood fuel consumption in FCV tobacco curing.
2. Evaluation of Bio-Consortia for Nutrient supplementation nematode/ disease control for enhancing productivity and quality of FCV tobacco in KLS region.

 Tobacco Board Officials and representatives from companies who sponsored the projects have participated in the programme.

 An amount of Rs.1.14 lakh was released to ICAR-NIRCA (CTRI) towards the second installment payment of the cost of Research project “Evaluation of Bio-Consortia for Nutrient supplementation nematode/ disease control for enhancing productivity and quality of FCV tobacco in KLS region”.

 As per the directions of Hon’ble Union Minister for Commerce & Industry in the meeting with farmers and traders of tobacco held on 29.06.2024, Tobacco Board has requested ICAR-NIRCA (CTRI) to send Research Project proposals on issues viz.,  Mechanization in tobacco cultivation; Suitable alternatives for SOP fertilizer; Suitable plant protection chemicals to avoid objectionable residues in tobacco to encourage exports; Develop barns that operate by using solar and electricity for curing tobacco. ICAR-NIRCA (CTRI) has proposed 12 Research Project proposals.

 Tobacco Board has arranged an interactive session with ICAR-NIRCA (CTRI) on 23.10.2024.  The Director and Scientists from CTRI have gave presentation on the Research Projects for reducing the drudgery of women workers in tobacco cultivation. Meetings were organized with ITA and major trade members at the Head Office on 31.01.2025 and 06.03.2025 to explain regarding the Research Project proposals and request them for financial support.

 The below two Research Projects proposed by ICAR-NIRCA (CTRI) are finalized and considered for awarding to ICAR-NIRCA (CTRI) by Tobacco Board with financial support of trade.

 (i)    Interventions to minimize leaf blotching in FCV tobacco in Loose Leaf barn with a financial estimate of Rs.12.669 lakhs to minimize the drudgery of work on women labour in tobacco curing.

(ii)   Energy saving and wood replacement interventions for curing FCV tobacco leaf with financial estimate of Rs.33.161 lakhs to replace fuel wood by green energy.