II. Extension and Developmental Schemes for improvement of yield & quality tobacco:

 

i. 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 with transplantation shocks, ensuring crop uniformity and which in turn improves crop yield and quality.  

 

During 2022-23 crop season, 13,85,427 trays were supplied to 6407 growers in Karnataka and 7,76,539 trays were supplied to 1644 growers in Andhra Pradesh by extending a subsidy of  30 % to SC/ST growers and  a subsidy of 20 % to Other category growers.

 

Subsidy of Rs.2.29 lakh on 1.79 lakh kgs of Cocopeat was extended to 308 FCV tobacco growers of Southern region as an encouragement for using Cocopeat as a growth medium in trays that would prevent incidence of soil borne diseases and which also aid in moisture conservation.  

 

In order to protect the tray seedlings from adverse weather conditions such as wind, cold, excessive rains, extreme temperatures, insects and disease incidence, the seedlings in trays have to be kept in controlled conditions and hence, Board  arranged for supply of 299 units of shade nets to 288 growers of SLS & SBS regions, by extending a subsidy of Rs.530/Unit.

 

ii. 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 2022-23 crop season, green manure crop was raised in an area of 11677.63 ha in Karnataka and 19480.90 ha. in Andhra Pradesh. Due to efforts of Board, the area under green manure crop has increased exorbitantly by 14.95 times in Karnataka and 2.18 times in Andhra Pradesh during 2022-23 crop season. Board extended subsidy of Rs.74.846 lakhs to 23607 growers of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states towards the supply of  7,56,993 kgs of green manure (Sunhemp) seed.

 

iii. Integrated Pest Management practices:

 

a. Pheromone and Yellow Sticky traps:

 Board facilitated the supply of 21,753 Pheromone Traps to 1120 growers and 16,947 Yellow Sticky Traps to 1148 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 2022-23 crop season, 1428 lts of Bio pesticides were supplied to 1426 growers in Karnataka and 5159 lts of bio pesticides were supplied to 1239 growers in               NLS region by extending a subsidy of 50% to all category growers.

 

c. Bio Fertilizers:

A quantity of 2003 lts of Potassium Releasing Bacteria (KRB) culture procured from NIPHM, Hyderabad and supplied to growers of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka for the first time during this year. KRB can solubulise the insoluble Potassium present in the soil and will be 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 2022-23 crop season, Board procured 9,10,000  marigold seedlings from CTRI Research stations and distributed among FCV tobacco growers in  Andhra Pradesh          and 2,56,500 marigold seedlings to growers in Karnataka on free of cost.

 

e. Sorghum and Bajra seeds:                       

 Sorghum 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 2022-23 crop season, Board procured 1062 kgs of Bajra seed and 852 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.

 

f. Subsidy on Water Soluble Fertilizers (WSF):

         During 2022-23 crop season the standing crop in Southern region of Andhra Pradesh was heavily damaged due to Mandous cyclonic rains received during 2nd week of           December-2022. Due to unforeseen cyclonic hazard, most of the FCV tobacco growers have incurred huge crop losses and have taken up replanting of crop or either             have resorted to reclamatory measures. Majority of growers have applied Water Soluble Fertilizers (WSF) for saving the crop quality and Board has extended 20%                 subsidy on 0:0:50 Water Soluble Fertilizers to eligible growers of all categories to provide financial relief to some extent for farmers in crisis situation facing Mandous             cyclone. An amount of Rs.10.92 lakhs was extended as subsidy on 0:0:50 Water Soluble Fertilizers to 7738 growers in Southern region.

 

iv. 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.

 

a.  Scheme for replacing traditional furnace with Venturi Furnace(Improved design of furnace):

 During 2022-23 crop season, Board has implemented this scheme in Andhra Pradesh in collaboration with trade covered 131 barns of 179 no. of beneficiaries by extending a subsidy of Rs.5000/- per barn.

b. 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 cost is Rs.37234/- per barn of size 16X20 approximately and can save fuel up to 27%.

During 2022-23 crop season, Board has implemented this scheme in Andhra Pradesh in collaboration with trade by extending a financial assistance of Rs.9308.43 for 16x20 barn in SLS/SBS region. 380 no. of grower beneficiaires had taken up Glass wool roof insulation and fitted with turbo ventilator in 310 no. of barns.

c. Paddy straw roof Insulation along with fixing of Turbo ventilator:

 The total cost of paddy straw insulation approximately will be Rs.15,000/ barn. This technology gave on an average a fuel saving of 30%.

 Board has implemented this scheme in 1484 barns in collaboration with trade by extending subsidy @ Rs.5000/barn to 1446 growers in Karnataka. Trade has also contributed an amount of Rs.5000/barn. 

d. Loose leaf barn technology:

 During 2020-21 and 2021-22 crop seasons, Tobacco Board has extended financial assistance of Rs.12.00 lakhs to 4 growers @ Rs.3.00 lakhs per barn  for installation of 4 Loose Leaf Barns in collaboration with trade (M/s ITC Ltd).

e.“Grow your own fuel” Scheme – supply of fast growing tree saplings:

Tobacco Board is encouraging the registered tobacco growers to transplant fast growing tree saplings, which not only replenishes the fuel wood requirement of growers at the time of curing but also reduces the dependency on natural wood reserves. Tobacco Board has made it mandatory, that the registered growers of tobacco shall plant a minimum of 10 tree saplings per barn before getting registered/ renewing their registration.

 

In Andhra Pradesh, the farmers have procured tree saplings from local forest department / social forestry nurseries at free of cost on submission of pattadar passbooks.

 

v. POST HARVEST PRODUCT MANAGEMENT – MEASURES FOR PRODUCT INTEGRITY

 

a. Elimination of Non Tobacco Related Materials (NTRMs) – Supply of Canvas Tarpaulins:

 Board has supplied 1698 canvas tarpaulins to 1698 growers in Andhra Pradesh so that the growers could cleanly handle the tobacco during harvesting, transporting, curing, storage and grading to avoid NTRMs, by extending a subsidy of Rs.1000/tarpaulin/grower for Other category growers and Rs.1400/tarpaulin /grower for SC/ST growers during 2022-23 crop season.

 

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 2022-23 crop season, Tobacco Board has extended financial assistance @ Rs.6500/- to Rs.16000/ per unit towards construction of 14 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 2022-23 crop season, 100 no. of cured leaf samples from Karnataka crop and 201 no. of 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 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 2022-23 crop season, 113 no. of leaf samples were analysed in Karnataka and in Andhra Pradesh 112 no. of cured leaf samples were analysed for leaf chemistry.