(a) the area on which tobacco farming is taking place in the country, State-wise;
(b) whether the Government is contemplating/proposes to work out any scheme to promote cultivation of other crops in place of tobacco; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a): Tobacco is grown in an area of 4.08 lakh hectares in the country. The state-wise area under tobacco during 2018-19 is as under:
State Area (‘000 Hectares)
Andhra Pradesh 88.00
Assam 0.14
Bihar 10.81
Gujarat 177.41
Karnataka 83.70
Maharashtra 0.46
Meghalaya 0.80
Mizoram 0.34
Rajasthan 0.24
Tamil Nadu 2.11
Telangana 4.00
Uttar Pradesh 26.00
West Bengal 14.69
All India 408.70
(b)&(c): Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) is already implementing Crop Diversification Programme (CDP), an ongoing sub-scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) in tobacco growing states viz., Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal to encourage tobacco growing farmers to shift to alternative crops/cropping system w.e.f. 2015-16. An amount of Rs. 1000.00 lakh as Central Share has been allocated to implementing states during 2020-21 for implementation of the programme on 60:40 sharing basis between Government of India and State Government.
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