Rich returns for tobacco farmers

The crop year 2006-07 has ended happily for about 54,000 Karnataka tobacco farmers, fetching them more returns than what they got last year. The Tobacco Board has fixed the crop for the state at 95 million kg for 2007-08, hiking it from 83.27 million kg of 2006-07.

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.