| In a happy development, the officials of the international tobacco and cigarette giant, Philip Morris, visited the tobacco areas in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka recently, and assessed the crop prospects for 2003 and 2004.
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| The delegation issued bulk orders to ITC, Dimon and Standard Commercial. The company is also understood to have placed a huge tobacco processing order with a prominent local exporter. This is for the first time that Philip Morris issued direct purchase orders to the locals.
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| At present, the representatives of Japan Tobacco International (JTI) are touring the state. It is hoped that they will also engage local exporters. Burley tobacco is likely to grab huge export orders.
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| Meanwhile, farmers have started tobacco-curing operations at Podili, DC Palli (Prakasam) and in some pocket areas. While plantation operations have been completed in light soils, they are still going on in the black soils.
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| The plantation has covered 80 per cent black soils. Some experts have estimated that the Andhra crop output would be around 140 million kg. Plantation of Harvel de Biocso Rio Grand tobacco variety is yet to be completed. Crop estimation has been placed at 25 million kg.
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| Auction of Yeleswaram Burley tobacco commenced last week. The highest price offered to the farmers was Rs 39 per kg and the lowest Rs 10. The major buyers were from Mittapalli and some local traders. The crop yield has been put at 8.5 million kg.
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| Warangal Burley tobacco, output of which is estimated at 3 million kg, has fetched farmers the highest price of Rs 38.50 per kg and the lowest price of Rs 10, depending on the grade and quality. The major buyers for this tobacco variety have been Vazir Sultan Tobacco (VST) and its authorised suppliers.
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| At Vinukonda, known as the Indian Tobacco Company (ITC) development area, plantation has been completed. Farmers assume that the crop output would be around 1.5 million kg.
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| The dark-fried tobacco variety, cultivated in the VSP development area, has reached the curing stage. Harvesting of this variety is in progress. The crop output is likely to be 1.5 million kg.
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| At Kurnool, a VST development area, crop harvesting may begin any day and an output of around 6 million kg crop is expected in this area. Farmers feel that the weather conditions are favourable for the crop.
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| In Eluru area, the crop yield has been estimated at 12 million kg. Oriental tobacco variety is being cultivated by the ITC at Palamaneru in Chittoor district. The VST is also sponsoring this crop in Kurnool area. The crop output is expected to reach 5 lakh kg. |
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