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 5000 units of HDPE pipes to 291 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 with transplantation shocks, ensuring crop uniformity and which in turn improves crop yield and quality.  

During 2023-24 crop season, 11,43,631 trays were supplied to 5516 growers in Karnataka and 6,73,393 trays were supplied to 1432 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.2.23 lakh on 172950 kgs of Cocopeat was extended to 294 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 287 units of shade nets to 272 growers of SLS & SBS regions, by extending a subsidy of Rs.469/Unit.

 

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 2023-24 crop season, green manure crop was raised in an area of 1590.60 ha in Karnataka and 16132.78 ha. in Andhra Pradesh. Board extended subsidy of Rs.4,33,700 lakh to 1850 growers of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states towards the supply of  43,000 kgs of green manure (Sunhemp) seed.

iv. Integrated Pest Management practices:

  • a. Pheromone and Yellow Sticky traps:

Board facilitated the supply of 10285  Pheromone Traps and lures to 620 growers and 8716 Yellow Sticky Traps to 663 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 2023-24 crop season, 744 lts of Bio pesticides were supplied to 744 growers in Karnataka and 2677.68 lts of bio pesticides were supplied to 615 growers in NLS region by extending a subsidy of 50% to all category growers.

  • c. Bio Fertilizers:

A quantity of 988 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 2023-24 crop season, Board procured 8,85,000 marigold seedlings from CTRI Research stations and distributed among FCV tobacco growers in  Andhra Pradesh and 2,32,500 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 2023-24 crop season, Board procured 502 kgs of Bajra seed and 566 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.

 

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

During 2023-24 crop season,  Board has implemented this scheme in Andhra Pradesh in collaboration with trade covered 171 barns for 223 grower beneficiaries by extending a subsidy of Rs.5000/- per barn.

  • 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 cost is Rs.35,566.38/- per barn of size 16X20 approximately and can save fuel up to 25-27%.

During 2023-24 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/SBS region.  366 no. of grower beneficiaries had taken up Glass wool roof insulation and fitted with turbo ventilator in 294 no. of barns.

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

The total cost of paddy straw roof insulation approximately will be Rs.17,819/ barn for 13X13 size and Rs.21,495/barn for 16X16 size. This technology can save on an average a fuel by 30%. 

Board has implemented this scheme in 1196 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 supplied saplings of fast growing trees at free of cost to registered growers who are willing to take up plantations at their barn sites, barren land and field bunds. The Auction Superintendents have distributed saplings to growers at meeting places and also participated in planting at farmers fields.

 

vi. POST HARVEST PRODUCT MANAGEMENT – MEASURES FOR PRODUCT INTEGRITY

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

Board has supplied 4062 canvas tarpaulins to 4062 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/grower for Other category growers and Rs.1400/tarpaulin /grower for SC/ST growers during 2023-24 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 2023-24 crop season, Tobacco Board has extended financial assistance @ Rs.6500/- to Rs.16000/ per unit towards construction of 36 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 2023-24 crop season, 105 no. of cured leaf samples from Karnataka crop and 169 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 2023-24 crop season, 105 no. of leaf samples were analysed in Karnataka and in Andhra Pradesh 106 no. of cured leaf samples were analysed for leaf chemistry. Leaf chemistry is good as per the region wise FCV tobacco analyzed.