With the demand for Karnataka tobacco rising in the international market, the Centre has been urged to increase the crop size in the state from the present 95 million kg to 100 million kg. | |
| In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently, Mysore MP C H Vijayashankar said the global demand for the neutral filler quality tobacco produced in the state was on the rise and that phenomenon is likely to continue for some more time, providing a good opportunity to the farmers to play it big. |
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| "An increase in crop size will help in more quota per barn and make tobacco cultivation sustainable for the farmers," Vijayashankar stated. |
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| He also urged the PM to ensure that all infrastructural inadequacies for growers of Virginia Flue Cured (VFC) tobacco are corrected. |
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| The 2007-08 auctions in the state had brought cheers to VFC tobacco growers as the average price was an all-time high of Rs 60 per kg because of the increased demand in the market. |
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| Concluding auctions before Pongal increased savings for the growers, Vijayashankar said while requesting the prime minister and the Tobacco Board to address problems pertaining to rising input costs, auction platforms and briquetting units and penalty on excess tobacco. |
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| Pointing to the increasing input costs, the Parliament member urged extension of subsidy to fertilisers. More than 40,000 metric tonnes of chemical fertilisers were used for tobacco cultivation in Mysore and Hassan districts, he said and added: "Abnormal increase in the cost of fertilisers will drive away farmers from using these, that would affect the quality of the produce." |
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