Tobacco farmers in Karnataka received an average price of Rs 102.69 a kg for flue-cured Virginia tobacco after 29 days of auctions, as against last year’s average of Rs 59.23 a kg.
So far this year, farmers in the state have sold 19.10 million kg of crop. They produced an excess crop this year. As against the authorised crop of 96.62 million kg, they harvested around 101.29 million kg.
Tobacco Board Chairman J Suresh Babu said the global markets were favourable to Indian tobacco as the crop size situation in Zimbabwe and Europe did not improve. This is likely to continue for the next 2-3 years and, therefore, farmers can expect better prices for their produce, he added.
During the period, farmers sold 5.26 million kg of bright grade tobacco, 9.08 million kg medium grade tobacco and 4.76 million kg low grade tobacco. While bright tobacco received Rs 117. 56 a kg (Rs 66.27 last year), medium variety received Rs 107.24 a kg (Rs 57.63) and low grade Rs 77.01 (Rs 40.82).
Farmers of HD Kote produced 9.83 million kg tobacco as against the authorised crop of 8.22 million kg.