Tobacco workshop

Assistant director general of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) K C Jain called upon the agricultural scientists to develop tobacco breeds that are not harmful.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day workshop on tobacco organised at University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad on Thursday he said tobacco seeds contained 35-39 per cent oil, which was useful to human body. The oil could be used in food daily, he added.

Since, tobacco is mostly consumed with Pan leaf, it has to be grown using organic means avoiding use of chemicals, Jain said.

He released a booklet on 'Improvised Means of Cultivation for Higher Yield of Tobacco'. Director of Central Tobacco Research Institute, Rajahmundry, Kapildev Singh said the tobacco grown in Karnataka was of high quality and had great demand in international market.

V-C of UAS, Bangalore, M N Sheelavantar speaking after inaugurating the workshop said Indian tobacco earned Rs 1,016 crore in foreign exchange every year. It stood third in the world in quality and covered 10 per cent of the area under tobacco cultivation in the world.

The V-C noted that the tobacco yield per acre was low in India and there was need to increase it. He called for development of tobacco breeds that contained less Nicotine.

Vice-Chancellor of Dharwad UAS S A Patil presided. Research Director S Lingappa welcomed. R R Hanchinal proposed a vote of thanks.