Centre Provides Relief To Over 28,000 Cyclone Affected Tobacco Farmers

Union Minister of Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal has accorded approval for Rs 28.11 crore to extend a special interest-free loan of Rs 10,000/- to each member of the tobacco board’s growers’ welfare schemes under southern regions of Andhra Pradesh which will directly benefit 28,112 farmers.

FCV tobacco is a major commercial crop grown in 10 districts of Andhra Pradesh with an annual production of 121 m.kg (2021-22) grown in an area of 66,000 ha. FCV tobacco is the major exportable tobacco variety of the total unmanufactured tobacco exports from India.

Out of the total unmanufactured tobacco exports (excluding tobacco refuse), FCV tobacco exports accounted for 53.62 per cent in terms of quantity and 68.47 per cent in terms of value during FY 2021-22.

FCV tobacco growers sell their produce through an e-auction platform developed and operated by the tobacco board, through a transparent process ensuring fair and remunerative prices to farmers.