Andhra Pradesh’s crop target unchanged

The Tobacco Board of India has fixed Andhra Pradesh’s 2014-15 flue-cured tobacco crop target at 172 million kg, which is unchanged from that of the previous season, according to a story published in the latest issue of the BBM Bommidala Group newsletter.

The new crop size was set despite calls by merchants for the target to be increased to 177 million kg.

The board’s chairman, Dr. K. Gopal, said the board had decided not to increase the crop size because of its obligations concerning the welfare of flue-cured tobacco growers and because of global market trends.

The chairman urged growers to concentrate on the quality of the tobacco they grew rather than on expanding the land they used for tobacco cultivation.

He suggested that growers be restrained while planting because over-production would lead to a fall in prices.

Growers in Karnataka, India’s other flue-cured tobacco growing state have been authorized to produce 104 million kg, up from 102 million kg last season.