Rich returns for tobacco farmers

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| The farmers notched up an average price of Rs 55.94 a kg in 2006-07 as against the 2005-06 average of Rs 48.06. In all, they sold away 96,983,739 kg flue-cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco and amassed Rs 542.53 crore this crop year (2006-07) against 83.27 million kg authorised crop fixed for them, thus producing an excess of 13.71 million kg. Last year (2005-06), they produced 82.91 million kg as against a fixed crop of around 70 million kg, and earned Rs. 398.47 crore. |
| Farmers of Periyapatna-III auction floor in 2006-07 earned the highest average of Rs 56.70 per kg, their counterparts of Hunsur-II platform received the lowest price of Rs 54.31. |
| Both prices were higher than the last year's highest price paid by traders. This year, except for a few days, there had been great rush for Karnataka tobacco throughout the season. Farmers still grumble that they deserved higher prices. |
| Farmers of Kamalpura and Shimoga stood first in the state by producing 18,073,231 kg crop and selling it for Rs 100.99 crore (Rs 55.88 per kg). |
| Farmers of Ramanathpura, who stood second, received Rs 88.23 crore at the rate of Rs 55.18 per kg for their harvest of 15,990,201 kg. |
| Farmers of Hunsur-I harvested 11,472,528 kg tobacco and earned Rs 64.05 crore at Rs 55.83 per kg while farmers of Periyapatna-I reaped 11,089,764 kg, sold away their crop at Rs 57.62 a kg and collected Rs 63.90 crore. The fourth place went to farmers of Hunsur-II, who produced 10,695,872 kg and ended the year with an income of Rs 58.09 crore (Rs 54.31 per kg). |
| Farmers produced 9,976,234 kg under Periyapatna-III auction floor, 9,964,694 kg under Periyapatna-II floor, and 9,721,215 kg under H D Kota platform. |
| These farmers earned Rs 56.70 per kg, Rs 56.11 per kg and Rs 56.39 per kg respectively.Traders paid them Rs 56.6 crore, Rs 55.91 crore, and Rs 54.82 crore respectively. |
First Published: Mar 21 2007 | 12:00 AM IST