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 preclude transplantation shocks, ensuring crop uniformity and which in turn improves crop yield and quality.
During 2020-21 crop season, 797677 trays were supplied to 3547 growers in Karnataka and 698866 trays were supplied to 1904 growers in Andhra Pradesh by extending a subsidy of 35 % to SC/ST growers and a subsidy of 25 % to other category growers.
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 141 units of shade nets to 136 growers of SLS & SBS regions, by extending a subsidy of Rs.386/Unit.
ii. Improving soil health – Supply of Green Manure Seeds:
Tobacco Board in coordination with State Agricultural Departments of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka arranged for supply of green manure seed to farmers well in advance, before commencement of crop season for improvement of soil texture, structure, fertility status.
During 2020-21 crop season, green manure crop was raised in an area of 2232.10 ha in Karnataka and in an area of 7585.66 ha in Andhra Pradesh.
iii. Integrated Pest Management practices:
a. Pheromone and Yellow Sticky traps:
Board facilitated supply of Pheromone Traps and Yellow Sticky Traps to tobacco growers for monitoring pest population in tobacco fields and extended subsidies on traps.
During 2020-21 crop season, 26896 no. of Pheromone traps were supplied to 1098 growers and 16855 no. of Yellow sticky traps were supplied to 1120 growers in Andhra Pradesh by extending a subsidy of 50% to all category growers.
b. Bio Pesticides:
Bio pesticides were supplied to licensed FCV tobacco growers in collaboration with NIPHM, Hyderabad, so as to prevent incidence of soil borne diseases and thereby reduce the use of chemical pesticides.
During 2020-21 crop season, 1176 lts of Bio pesticides were supplied to 1062 growers in Karnataka and 4734 lts of bio pesticides were supplied to 1352 growers in NLS region by extending a subsidy of 50% to SC/ST growers and 30% to other category growers.
c. 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.
During 2020-21 crop season, Board procured 8,06,500 marigold seedlings from CTRI Research stations and distributed among FCV tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh and 1,63,500 marigold seedlings to growers in Karnataka on free of cost.
d. 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 2020-21 crop season, Board procured 1899 kgs of Bajra seed and 198 kgs of Jowar seeds from the Karnataka State Seed Corporation, Government of Karnataka and supplied to 925 growers of KLS region at free of cost.
iv. Energy Conservation measures:
Conservation of fuel wood usage can be achieved by Energy Conservation measures like barn roof insulation with glass wool/paddy straw and venturi furnace installation.
a. Scheme for replacing traditional furnace with Venturi Furnace(Improved design of furnace):
During 2020-21 crop season, Board implemented this scheme in Andhra Pradesh in collaboration with trade in 139 barns covering 172 no. of beneficiaries and replaced the old furnaces in these barns with Venturi furnace, by extending a subsidy of Rs.5000 per barn to the beneficiary growers.
b. Glass wool Roof Insulation of barns and fitting with Turbo ventilator:
The total cost of glass wool roof insulation and fitting of turbo ventilator ranges from Rs.23762.48 to Rs.31034.58 per barn of size 16X16 to 16X20 and 16X24 approximately.
During 2020-21 crop season, Board implemented this scheme in Andhra Pradesh in collaboration with trade by extending a financial assistance of Rs.7758.64 for 16x20 barn in SLS/SBS region and Rs.5940.62 and Rs.6514.02 for 16x16 and 16x20 size barns in NLS and NBS regions. 657 no. of grower beneficiaires had taken up Glass wool roof insulation and fitted with turbo ventilator in 516 no. of barns.
The trade had contributed Rs.10,000/- as financial assistance and the remaining cost of insulation was borne by the grower beneficiary.
c. Paddy straw roof Insulation with 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 implemented this scheme in 1097 barns in collaboration with trade by extending subsidy of Rs.5000/barn to 1069 growers in Karnataka. Trade contributed an amount of Rs.5000/barn.
d. Loose leaf barn technology:
During 2020-21 crop season, Tobacco Board has taken up installation of 4 no. of loose leaf barns on trial basis in collaboration with trade by extending financial assistance to 4 no. of growers @ Rs.3.00 lakhs per barn to evaluate the cost economics and efficacy of technology with respect to reduction of manual labour requirement and wood fuel consumption.
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 obtained saplings from local forest department nurseries at free of cost on submission of pattadar passbook of grower.
v. POST HARVEST PRODUCT MANAGEMENT – MEASURES FOR PRODUCT INTEGRITY
a. Elimination of Non Tobacco Related Materials (NTRMs) – Supply of Canvas Tarpaulins:
Board has supplied 1719 canvas tarpaulins to 1719 growers in Karnataka and 2054 canvas tarpaulins to 2054 growers in Andhra Pradesh to help growers to 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 2020-21 crop season.
b. Construction of Bulking sheds/Model Storage Facilities:
Board 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 2020-21 crop season, Tobacco Board extended financial assistance @ Rs.6500/- to Rs.16000/ per unit towards construction of 12 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 2020-21 crop season, 100 no. of samples were analysed in Karnataka and in Andhra Pradesh 292 no. of samples were analysed.
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 Nicotine, Sugars and Chlorides so as to determine the quality of leaf grown during the particular season and establish the crop chemistry.
During 2020-21 crop season, 100 no. of samples were analysed in Karnataka and in Andhra Pradesh115 no. of samples were analysed.
III. Extension and Developmental schemes for Sustainable Tobacco Production:
a. Promotion of natural farming practices in tobacco cultivation:
Tobacco Board has taken up trials in the fields of growers, to demonstrate the benefits of Natural farming in FCV tobacco cultivation across all the soil regions.
During 2020-21 crop season, the trials were undertaken in the fields of 60 interested growers in Andhra Pradesh in an area of 186.63 acres (74.65 ha.) and in an area of 104.00 acres (41.60 ha.) by 104 growers in Karnataka by extending a cash incentive of Rs.5000/grower and Rs.10,000/- per grower towards cost of organic inputs.
b. Residue free Tobacco Production:
Board launched massive campaigns during 2020-21 crop season for control of pesticide residues, to get assured quality of leaf and to improve the product integrity.
Tobacco Board is undertaking analysis of leaf samples 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.
Production of 100% Pendimethalin residue free tobacco by the farmers (as per GRL of CORESTA) is a great achievement of this campaign.
