The Tobacco Board has fixed the crop size for Andhra Pradesh at 142 million kg for the agriculture year 2023-24.
At its meeting here on Tuesday, the board discussed the proposals from various stakeholders, who included farmers, traders and the Indian Tobacco Association, who sought that the crop size be fixed at 170 million kg.
Considering the crop estimations in Karnataka, the future market trends and exports, the board decided to allow the farmers to cultivate 142 million kg like in the previous year.
Tobacco Board Chairman D.V. Swamy, Executive Director Addanki Sridhar Babu, Director of Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI), Rajahmundry, Magunta Seshu Madhav, and board members participated in the meeting. A few members, including G.V.L. Narasimha Rao, participated in the meeting via a video link.
Meanwhile, the election of the Tobacco Board Vice-Chairman was put off due to lack of understanding among the stakeholders.