Initiatives taken up by Board for sustainable tobacco production during 2019-20 crop season

1. Promotion of natural farming practices in tobacco cultivation:

            Natural farming promoted a brand image of pesticide residue free FCV tobacco in international scenario and mode of natural farming is environment friendly, consumes less inputs, protects natural resources from chemical, contamination, Tobacco Board has under taken trails in  fields of 93 growers, to demonstrate the benefits of Natural farming to tobacco growers in FCV tobacco cultivation across all the soil regions in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka during 2019-20 crop season. In an area of 325 acres in Andhra Pradesh and 35.25 acres in Karnataka FCV tobacco cultivation was taken up by following practices of natural farming under supervision of crop experts. The growers who have taken up natural farming practices were extended cash incentive of Rs.5000/grower and Rs.10,000/ towards cost of inputs.

2. 365 days green cover in tobacco plantation 

Tobacco Board has initiated “365 days green cover” in tobacco farming, under natural farming mode in low productive, drought, prone tobacco growing villages, for improving the soil micro biome and soil organic carbon content.