MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a): The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) has extended Crop Diversification Programme (CDP), an ongoing sub scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) to encourage tobacco growing farmers to shift to alternative crops/cropping system in ten tobacco growing states namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal w.e.f. 2015-16. Department of Agriculture, Maharashtra has not implemented the scheme as their area is negligible under tobacco. Under CDP, tobacco growing States have given flexibility to take suitable activities/interventions for replacing the tobacco to alternative crops/cropping system as per the cost norms approved under any Centrally Sponsored Scheme/State Scheme.
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Under CDP for motivating the farmers, State may also organize study tours/ exposure visits and campaigns etc. for highlighting harmful effects of tobacco and long term benefits of alternative crops.
(b): The research work carried out by ICAR-Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI), Rajahmundry revealed that a remunerative cropping system rather than a sole crop can be a viable alternative to sole tobacco crop. Alternative crops/cropping systems like maize, rice, wheat, ragi, cotton, soybean, mustard, castor, groundnut, black gram, chilly, chickpea, potato, ginger, sugarcane, jute, areca nut, banana, oil palm along with dairy/ poultry/ fishery have been identified for the tobacco growing areas in different states. The most preferred diversified suitable crops adopted for farming reported by some of the states are as under.
S.No. State Diversified preferred crops adopted for farming
1 Andhra Pradesh Bengal gram, Black gram, Green gram, Jowar, Maize & Hybrid Vegetables
2 Bihar Organic vegetable farming
3 Gujarat Wheat, Pulses, Nutri Cereals (Jowar, Bajra), Paddy, Cotton & Vegetables
4 Karnataka Cereals/millets, pulses, sugarcane, oilseeds, horticultural crops (Mango, Banana, Papaya) flowers, plantation crop and vegetables
5 Odisha Hybrid Maize, Millets, Vegetables, Oil Seeds (Groundnut & Mustard)
Cropping system like vegetable- maize/ millets, vegetables-groundnut/ mustard, vegetables- urd/bengal gram, vegetables-vegetables
6 Tamil Nadu Hybrid Maize and Hybrid Vegetables like Tomato, Brinjal & Bhindi
7 Telangana Bengal gram, Chillies & Oil palm
8 Uttar Pradesh Lentil, Bengal gram, Wheat & Mustard
9 West Bengal Mustard, Vegetables, Potato & Wheat
(c): The allocation of funds (Central Share) by the Government of India to various States during the last two years along with the expenditure (Central Share + State Share) reported by the States to shift from tobacco farming to alternate farming is given below:
(Rs. in lakh)
S. No. State 2016-17 2017-18
Allocation (BE) (CS) Expenditure
(CS+SS) Allocation (B.E.) (CS) Expenditure
(CS+SS)
1 Andhra Pradesh 945.00 1323.00 210.10 252.00
2 Bihar 80.00 65.45 17.80 15.57
3 Gujarat 905.00 96.54 201.23 380.16
4 Karnataka 720.00 658.36 160.08 133.25
5 Maharashtra 13.00 0.00 2.86 0.00
6 Odisha 11.00 0.00 2.45 0.00
7 Tamil Nadu 24.00 0.00 5.33 21.60
8 Telangana 47.00 0.00 10.47 12.95
9 Uttar Pradesh 172.00 0.00 38.21 103.70
10 West Bengal 83.00 129.00 18.47 30.77
BE-Budget Estimate, CS-Central Share, SS-State Share
The expenditure under CDP is shared on 60:40 basis between Central & State Governments
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(d): Government of Telangana, Odisha & Karnataka have reported experience of farmers for cultivation of alternative crops to tobacco. Government of Telangana has informed that tobacco farmers shifted to alternative crops like Bengal gram & chillies. In Odisha farmers shifted towards vegetables like tomato, cauliflower, cabbage, chilly & hybrid maize, sunflower, lemongrass, groundnut, black gram etc. In Karnataka tobacco farmers adopted alternative crops like soybean followed by sugarcane during 2017.
(e): In order to encourage farmers to shift tobacco growers to other crops, a National Seminar on Crop Diversification sponsored by DAC&FW, was organized by the ICAR-CTRI at Rajahmundry to exchange of information and experiences of various stakeholders on various issues relating to tobacco diversification. Tobacco Board in collaboration of CTRI has conducted two National Seminars at Rajamahendravaram for Andhra Pradesh and at Mysore for Karnataka to identify and create awareness among the farmers about alternative available to tobacco. Tobacco Board in collaboration of State Department of Agriculture & allied Departments of Government of Karnataka conducted a seminar at Periyapatna on cultivation of alternative crops to tobacco. Tobacco Board has also distributed pamphlets on package of practices for alternative crops to Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco.
In addition to above, DAC&FW is supplementing the efforts of the States through implementation of various crop development programme like National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI), National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), National Mission on Agricultural Extension & Technology (NMAET), Soil Health Card Scheme, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) etc
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