Farmers harvest tobacco worth Rs 258 crore

HDBRG (Harvel de Baixo Rio Grande) tobacco, one of the premium burley varieties, is grown in black soils of Guntur and Prakasam districts. The harvest has been estimated at 14 million kg (Rs 75.6 crore) of which traders have already lifted 13 million kg at the top price of Rs 54. HDBRG contains more nicotine than any other burley.

The production of Yeleswaram burley, the next best variety after HDBRG cultivated in the East Godavari agency area, has been estimated at 8 million kg (Rs 40 crore). Farmers received a price of Rs 50 per kg.

For Warangal burley, a light soil crop also known as Raghavapur burly or Telangana burley, the harvest turned out to be 4.5 million kg (Rs 22.5 crore). This fetched a price of Rs 50 per kg.

The harvest of oriental tobacco, the most expensive variety, has been placed at 2.5 million kg. The crop is produced in Kurnool and Chittoor districts. In Kurnool, VST is said to have gathered about 1.5 million kg while the ITC has collected 1 million kg in Chittoor district. This tobacco is used as a blend for the most expensive cigars.

ITC cultivated Vinukonda burley in Guntur district, the production of which has been put at 6 million kg (Rs 27 crore). ITC would buy a large portion of the harvest. The highest price offered was Rs 45, market sources said.

Kentucky fire cured (KFC) tobacco, developed by the VST, was cultivated in Kurnool and Nizamabad. This year's harvest has been pegged at 3 million kg (Rs 15 crore). The crop was completely marketed at Rs 50 a kg.

Eluru natu (country), cultivated in West Godavari and Krishna districts, has been estimated at 9 million kg (Rs 26.10 crore). The crop received the highest price of Rs 45 per kg and lowest rate at Rs 12 per kg. About 4 million kg Kurnool Natu (Rs 12.6 crore) was harvested in Kurnool district. Farmers received Rs 34 as the highest price