AGR 301 :: Lecture 25 :: AREA, PRODUCTION, PRODUCTIVITY AND IMPORTANCE OF NARCOTICS IN INDIA & TAMIL NADU

• India has been considered as treasure house of valuable Tobacco is the most widely grown non-food crop in the world. Around 50 million growers in 23 developed and 94 developing countries grow tobacco. India is the world's third largest producer of tobacco next to China and USA.
• Tobacco sector in India provides about 30 million jobs in agricultural operations including nurseries, cultivation, curing, processing, manufacturing and distribution of tobacco products in rural and urban areas.
• Indian tobacco is exported to more than 80 countries spread over in all the continents accounting 4% of global tobacco exports. The total production of all tobacco varieties in India accounts for about 8.0% of total global production whereas it stands fifth in Flue Cured Virginia tobacco production registering only 3.3% of world production.
• Tobacco as a single largest commodity is the fourth leading revenue earner for the central Government contributing about 10% of the total Excise revenue collection and around 5% of agricultural exports from India, corresponding to Rs.5000 crores and Rs.1000 crores respectively.
• India produces 7-8% of world's tobacco, while China alone accounts for nearly 40%.

Area (ha), prodution (Mt) and productivity (kg/ha) of tobacco in India

Area, Production and Yield of Tobacco in Tamil Nadu (2007-08)

Present Scenario in Tamil Nadu

• Tobacco is cultivated in around 10000 ha in Tamil Nadu.
• The crop is transplanted during September – October and harvested in January – February.
• Sun-cured tobacco varieties are transplanted from mid October to mid December.
• High quality cheroot tobacco types are transplanted in November and December months.
• Nattu tobacco is transplanted in Bhavani area in October and even during November – December after the harvest of rice.
• In Sentharaipatti area, tobacco is transplanted from January to February.
• High quality cheroot tobacco is grown is parts of Madurai district and around Dindigul and Vedasandur area.
• Natu, cheroot type of variety Oosikkappal is cultivated in Sentharappatti area of Salem district and in Bhavani and Kurichi blocks of Erode district.
• In other parts of the state mostly chewing type of tobacco are grown.
• High quality cheroot tobacco is grown in red sandy gravel soils with irrigation water having total soluble salts is less than 100 ppm.
• Natu cheroot tobacco are cultivated mostly in red loam soils with high fertility status.
• In sandy clay loam soils with irrigation water having high chloride content, chewing tobacco varieties are grown.
• In Bhavani block of Erode district and also in some parts of Coimbatore district chewing tobacco is grown even in black soils under canal irrigation. Chewing tobacco is also grown in Vedaranyam area in sandy soils.
• High quality cheroot tobacco is mostly sun cured, Natu cheroot tobacco is processed both under sun and shade curing and chewing tobacco is cured by sun, smoke and pit curing methods.
• In general in Tamil Nadu, sun cured chewing tobacco is cultivated around 60-65% of tobacco area. Tobacco area under smoke curing is about 30% and pit curing is done for the remaining 5% area under chewing tobacco.
• The Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI) Research Station at Vedasandur is functioning from 1948 in Tamil Nadu.
• Because of the continuous research and extension work of the CTRI research station at Vedasandur, the chewing tobacco yield is increased from 2000 kg/ha in 1948 to 2800 kg/ha in 1956-59, and 3250 kg/ha in 1977-78 and 3800 – 4000 kg/ha at present.

Importance of narcotics
           Tobacco is currently the world’s most important non-food crop &contributes substantially to the economy of more than 150 countries.
The tobacco value chain is most often depicted from the perspective of the cigarette industry and its health implications. However, from a more integrated perspective, one is able to appreciate the importance of this sector - as a whole - to the economy and, in particular, to tobacco growing regions.
Tobacco taxation is the main source of revenue for almost all governments. Few industries are as complete as the tobacco industry. The tobacco industry generally occupies an important role within a country’s social and economic context. Even in countries that do not have cigarette factories, the distribution of tobacco products is a significant source of economic activity.
Though only 0.3% of the world’s cultivable land is occupied by tobacco plantations – less than half the land occupied by coffee, for example – it is an important component of the agriculture industry in many countries and creates more employment per hectare of cultivated land than any other crop in the world. Price stability is one of the main attractions for tobacco growers, as well as greater profitability per hectare.
Good cultivation techniques also help tobacco farmers maximize land efficiency and help alternative crops grow, better enabling farmers to make the most of their land all year round.
Although tobacco is grown in more than 100 countries, four countries viz., Brazil, China, India and the United States account for two thirds of total global production.
Imports of cigarettes and other manufactured tobacco products deprive many countries of badly needed foreign exchange. Out of 194 countries surveyed, two-thirds imported more than they exported in 1998. Ten countries lost more than $100 million, including Lebanon, Russia and Vietnam. And, of the 62 countries which had a positive balance of trade in manufactured tobacco products, half earned less than $20 million, while three (the United States, United Kingdom,
and the Netherlands) earned over $1 billion.2
The tobacco industry estimates that globally, 33 million people are engaged in tobacco cultivation. However, this figure includes not only farmers who rely entirely on tobacco, but also farmers who grow other crops besides tobacco, seasonal laborers, family members and other part-time workers. Of these 33 million, approximately 15 million are in China and 3.5 million in India.
Multiple choice questions

1. In India, the productivity of tobacco is highest in the state
   a. Punjab                   b. U.P                          c. Haryana
2. Maximum acreage under tobacco cultivation is in the state  ______
   a. Haryana                b. U.P                          c. A.P
3. Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI) is located in  Tamil Nadu at
   a. Vedasandur         b. Palani                      c. Veppankulam
4. Natu cheroot tobacco are cultivated mostly in ______ soils
   a. Oct. – Dec.           b. June - July                         c. Jan. – Feb.

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