2 months ago
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The Tobacco Board has reduced the harvest size for Karnataka from 100 cardinal kg during 2025-26 to 90 cardinal kg for 2026-27. The simplification successful harvest size comes successful the aftermath of the driblet successful prices of tobacco.
Tobacco Board president Yashwanth Kumar, who participated successful the board’s gathering held successful Mysuru connected Monday, said the harvest size had been reduced not lone successful presumption of subdued demand, but besides to guarantee that the existent harvest is marketed astatine a remunerative price.
Even though the harvest size for 2025-26 was fixed astatine 100 cardinal kg, the accumulation is estimated to beryllium lone 87.97 cardinal kg.
Tobacco farmers successful Karnataka had resorted to an agitation aft the prices of agleam people varieties fell from a highest of ₹320 to ₹270–280 past month.
The traders, who scaled down procurement, blamed the reduced request for cigarettes connected its higher terms aft the Union Budget levied Excise work and accrued the GST connected baccy products from 28 to 40%.
During the meeting, Indian Tobacco Association (ITA) caput Y.A. Chowdary said accumulation had gone up successful countries similar Brazil and Zimbabwe, which is besides impacting prices.
Besides, Mr. Chowdary said the shipping of baccy to overseas destinations excessively had been disrupted owing to the struggle successful West Asia and its implications successful West Asian countries.
Responding to demands from elected representatives connected options for farmers to displacement from baccy cultivation, Mr. Kumar said Niti Aayog is promoting harvest diversification to regenerate baccy with alternate crops similar sandalwood.
Alternative crops similar sandalwood, bamboo and fruits person been promoted by Niti Aayog to boost husbandman income and sustainability.
Minister for Animal Husbandry and Sericulture K. Venkatesh and A. Manju, JD(S) MLA, who correspond baccy increasing regions of Periyapatna and Arkalgud successful the Legislative Assembly, besides sought a compensation for farmers, who travel guardant to springiness up their baccy cultivation licence.
