Farmers in the traditional tobacco growing areas in Nellore and Prakasam districts are a happier lot as prices for various grades, including low and medium ones, have shot up, thanks to the favourable demand-supply situation in the global market.
Taking advantage of the situation, the farmers coming under the Southern Black Soil and Southern Light Soil regions have so far marketed 35 million kg, receiving an average price of ₹172 per kg, which was up by ₹17 per kg when compared with the previous year’s price, said Tobacco Board Chairman Y. Raghunatha Babu after visiting some of the auction platforms in Prakasam district.
The crop production was only 69 million kg this rabi against 80 million kg fixed by the Tobacco Board. Traders lapped up even medium and low grade varieties offering premium prices, explained Tobacco Board Regional Manager D. Venugopal.