Tobacco harvest area likely to decrease this year in Charotar

Since the Government has banned the consumption of tobacco products from public places and the printing of caner photos on tobacco products the sales in tobacco products have also dropped. With no options left the farmers involved in growing tobacco are now turning toward cash crops.

Charotar is an important place for growing tobacco in Gujarat. The farmers of Anand-Kheda district are involved in tobacco farming; till now tobacco harvesting was easy and financially convenient for them. A large number of farmers grow two types of tobacco; Desi and Kalkatti. The farmers use to sell these two types of tobacco for a huge income. However due to the dropping sales in tobacco products, farmers are now shifting to harvest cash crops like Cotton, Bajra and Castor. In last season, the Tobacco farmers got fewer returns for their hard work and invested money. The price of tobacco last year was Rs 700 to Rs 800 which is now Rs 400, whereas the price of Cotton is Rs 7500. Thus keeping the lesser demand of tobacco in mind the farmers are now leaving tobacco farming.

In Kheda District, places like Nadiad, Mahudha, Mehmdavad, Kapadwanj, Kathlal, Balasinor and Thasra taluka are major areas for growing tobacco. Whereas there is no tobacco production in Kheda, Matar and Virpur taluka. Maximum amount of tobacco is harvested in Thasra Taluka. In the year 2009-2010 tobacco was harvested in 16750 hectares and in the year 2010-11 it was in 17500 hectares, while this year it is estimated to decrease to 14000 hectares. The lowest amount of tobacco is harvested in Kapadwanj Taluka where in 2009-10 it was coverting135 hectares and in 2010-11 it was 350 hectares, while this year it is expected to cover only 300 hectares.

Manharbhai of the Agriculture department in Kheda district said that in last two years the rates of tobacco have gone lower. Compared to tobacco the farmers are now turning towards harvesting cash crops like cotton and castor for higher returns.