Question : Production of Tobacco

(a) the details of the production of tobacco in the country during the last five years as compared to those of China and Brazil;

(b) whether there is any development scheme for tobacco crop at present, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether there has been a change in the land pattern usage for the tobacco cultivation over the last five years, if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(d) the details of the institutional and regulatory support given by the Government to the tobacco growers; and

(e) whether the Government has received any representation on behalf of the tobacco growers to provide subsidy or additional support to them, if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ À㕾㠽ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a): The details of estimated production of tobacco in the country viz-a-viz China and Brazil during the period 2013-14 to 2016-17 are as under:




Contd….2/-

-2-
(‘000 tonnes)
Year India China* Brazil*
2013-14 735.02 3375.4 850.7
2014-15 855.43 2997.1 862.4
2015-16 802.71 2834.0 867.4
2016-17 805.51 2806.8 675.5
* Production estimates of China and Brazil pertain to the years 2013, 2014,
2015 and 2016; Source: FAOSTAT (as on 02.08.2018)

The estimate of production of tobacco for the agricultural year 2017-18 is not available.

(b) to (e): Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare does not implement any programme for promotion of tobacco. The Ministry has extended Crop Diversification Programme (CDP), an ongoing sub scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), to tobacco growing states namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal to encourage tobacco growing farmers to shift from tobacco crop to alternative crops / cropping system in w.e.f. 2015-16.

The tobacco area in the country has reduced from 4.67 lakh hectares (during 2014-15) to 3.996 lakh hectares (during 2016-17). State-wise details of area under tobacco cultivation is at Annexure. As per the reports of the State Governments, the tobacco area of 49553 hectares in Andhra Pradesh, 351 hectares in Bihar, 348 hectares in Gujarat, 5804 hectares in Karnataka and 2250 hectares in West Bengal shifted to other crops under CDP during 2016-17. During 2015-16, CDP was implemented only in Andhra where 29998 hectares of tobacco area shifted to other crops. Besides, State Governments of Odisha and Tamil Nadu have reported diversion of tobacco area of 5080 hectares from 2001-02 to 2016-17 and 2131 hectares during 2015-16 to alternate crops, respectively.

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has no scheme for providing any institutional / regulatory support for promotion of tobacco farming. However, Tobacco Board under Department of Commerce in collaboration with other organizations viz. Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI), National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM), is implementing various extension and developmental schemes for improvement of productivity and quality of Indian Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) Tobacco to make it more competitive in the international market. Tobacco Board also provides standard set of critical crop inputs - seed, fertilizers and suckercide to registered FCV tobacco farmers to ensure compliance of the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and timely crop credit through commercial banks. It facilitates insurance coverage under Group Personal Accidental Policy and coverage for tobacco barns stocks and allied structures under standard fire and allied perils policy. Further, Tobacco Board has established “Tobacco Growers Welfare Fund” in 2009 for welfare of registered FCV tobacco farmers and their families.

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has not received any representation on behalf of tobacco growers to provide subsidy or additional support to them.