With the output of tobacco crop expected to drop this year, in view of the unfavourable weather conditions, Pratap Simha, Mysuru MP, met Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal in New Delhi on Wednesday, August 2, and urged him to advise the Tobacco Board to permit farmers to take up a late crop this year.
The MP pointed out that the tobacco growers had suffered a crop loss this year due to the delayed onset of monsoon. “Crop growth has been uneven and not satisfactory due to prolonged drought condition during the grand growth period. This circumstance led to a drop in productivity and impacting the financial status of the farmers since tobacco is the only source of their livelihood,” Mr. Simha said in a representation submitted to Mr. Barthwal in New Delhi.
He said that a few of the farmers, who had lost the crop – partially or completely – due to the moisture stress and diseases have taken up nursery and were planning to take up fresh plantation in order to recover their loss and protect their livelihood.
