Tobacco Board, having a wide network of qualified and trained technical staff, plays a crucial role in improving yield and quality of FCV tobacco. The Board implements various extension and developmental schemes for improving yield and quality of tobacco in collaboration with Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI), Rajahmundry and Research & Developmental wings of tobacco companies in private sector.

The Board implements the following Extension & Developmental Activities for improving the yield & quality of the tobacco, economy in fuel consumption, mechanization in tobacco farming, transfer of technology, Product Integrity/Post Harvest Product Management etc., to help promote exports.

Now a days, tobacco farmers are increasingly finding labour shortages in many areas. Therefore, the Board, with a view to help farmers mechanise certain operations is organising supply of:

• Improved farm implements/machines like Bullock Drawn Ridger, power weeder-cum-intercultivator-cum-ridger, transplanting machines, etc.
• Micro-irrigation equipment for irrigating tobacco seedbeds and drip irrigation equipment for irrigating main fields with the help of Govt. of Andhra Pradesh.
• PVC pipes for drawing water from long distances for irrigating tobacco crops in Prakasam & Nellore
  Districts of Andhra Pradesh.
• Hi-tech Sprayers for proper spray of pesticides in seedbeds and main field.
• Popularising leaf stitching machines among growers.
• Curometers/Electronic devices in the barn for proper curing of tobacco.
• Weighing scales for proper packing & baling of tobacco.

• Seed - Tobacco Board organises supply of quality seed every year to the growers in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka at its 30 Auction Platforms through procuring the same from CTRI and M/s. ITC Ltd.
• Tray Seedlings – The Board encourages growers to go for raising of quality & healthy seedlings in trays.
• The Board organises supply of trays & coco-peat media to the tobacco growers in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh at competitive prices and against input loans at 6 to 6.5% rate of interest.
• The Board promotes Green houses/Poly houses for tray nurseries supplying shade nets and polythene sheets at competitive prices.
• Schemes are on the anvil to raise quality seedlings and supply to SC/ST, Small & marginal growers.

• The rainfall in the Southern Light Soil areas located in the Prakasam and Nellore districts in the state of Andhra Pradesh is erratic and the crop in this area often witnesses prolonged dry periods affecting the quality & yields.
• Therefore, the Board had embarked up on creating some water harvesting structures to help growers give one life saving irrigation to sustain the crop.
• The Board is taking up construction of Mini Check dams over the rivulets and digging of farm ponds
  meeting 85 to 100% cost of the water harvesting structures.
• The Board is implementing the project of providing farm ponds in association with M/s. ITC Ltd.

• The Board implements IPM programme in every year in select areas in all the Auction Platforms in A.P.
• Supplies of pheromone traps, lures, NPV solution, etc at competitive prices to growers.
• Monitors pest population and advises growers take up cultural/mechanical and bio-control measures followed by chemical control measures.
• Supplies trap crop seeds/seedlings free of cost to the growers.
• Organises supplies of organic pesticides at competitive price.
• Monitors pesticide residues in tobacco from different growing zones and takes corrective steps.

The Board organises supply of various inputs to growers viz.

The cost of curing of tobacco accounts for about 1/3 of the total cost of cultivation. Therefore, the Board implements the following schemes to achieve energy conservation in curing of tobacco and thus reduce curing costs.

• Fixing of Venturi furnaces in the barns replacing traditional furnaces.
• Barn Roof Insulation.
• Modified Flue Boxes – replacing 50% of the existing cylindrical pipes in the barn.
• Promoting establishment of briquetting units for manufacture of briquettes from agri waste.
• Promoting raising of own fuel by growers.
• Training programmes to growers on curing of tobacco and appointing master curers to advise growers on curing techniques.
• Efforts are underway to develop suitable solar barn for curing of tobacco.

Bulking (PROCESSING), Grading & storing of Tobacco

The cured tobacco unloaded from the barns requires to be bulked properly to facilitate fermentation process and improve in quality before it is graded and packed in bales.

• The Board conducts training programmes on proper bulking of cured tobacco.
• Supplies tarpaulins to growers for covering the bulks and avoiding admixture of Non-Tobacco Related Materials (NTRMs) during bulking and grading of tobacco.
• Assist growers construct bulking sheds/model storage facilities under loan tie-up arrangement with banks.
• Distributes leaflets & pamphlets on Product Integrity, Proper curing & grading and on elimination of NTRMs. It also screens films through cable network during meetings in the villages.

• Training programmes are organized @ 3 programmes in each of the 30 Auction Platforms in A.P & Karnataka for the benefit of farmers and field staff in collaboration with CTRI and Research Wing of ITC – ILTD at different stages of crop growth to impart latest knowledge on crop production.
• Study tours of farmers to research stations and Board’s Model Project Area, On Farm Trial Plots, Krushi Vignana Kendra, Green leaf threshing plants, Auction Platforms, to enable them to get acquainted with the  latest improved practices and adopt the same in their own fields.
• Distribution of literature on latest production technology.
• Result oriented demonstrations to demonstrate various latest methods of crop production and varietal trials to test the performance of pipeline varieties under field conditions are conducted by Board in collaboration with CTRI, every year.
• Audio-visual publicity in villages on Good Agricultural Practices during growers’ meetings.
• Screening of short-films on Good Agricultural Practices and latest improved technology through cable network.
• Workshops at CTRI Research Stations with growers.
• Exclusive training programmes to growers at CTRI Research Stations.
• Organizing field visits of scientists from CTRI and executives from trade to advice growers on the latest package of practices and crop protection measures.
• Model Project Area scheme in NLS & SLS of Andhra Pradesh & KLS of Karnataka.

Intensive Extension through demonstrating all Good Agricultural Practices, latest technology, improved crop protection measures including IPM, PHPM & INM in association with CTRI and trade. Frequent contacts with all the farmers in select areas.

Tobacco Board honours the best growers for achieving higher yields every year as a step towards inculcating a spirit of competition among the growers.

Every year the Board felicitates the Best Grower Awardees on the Formation Day of the Board celebrated in the 1st week of January with a cash incentive of Rs. 5,000, a Silver Medal and a Certificate of Merit. The following are the awards presented to the growers.