Lok Sabha Question No. 2038 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-03
Subject: Support to Tobacco Cultivators
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Krupal Balaji Tumane

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2038

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  3 RD  MARCH, 2020

## SUPPORT TO TOBACCO CULTIVATORS

2038.  SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT: SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of institutional monetary and regulatory support given by the Government for tobacco growers;
- (b) the  response  of  tobacco  growing  States  to  Crop  Diversification  Programme  (CDP) implemented  under  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY)  and  the  amount  allocated  to States for its implementation;
- (c) whether the Government has put in place any schemes or framework to facilitate Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco farmers to give up tobacco farming and demolish their barns, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of any change in the land use pattern for tobacco cultivation over the last five years in different tobacco growing States;
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  initiative  to  promote  alternative  uses  of tobacco, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether there is any data on the number of farmers/women and children involved in tobacco farming in India, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a): The Tobacco Board, Ministry of Commerce and Industry set up under Tobacco Board Act, 1975 is regulating the production and curing of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco as per the demand for tobacco in India and abroad, marketability of different types of FCV tobacco and other factors so as to ensure fair and remunerative prices to growers. Tobacco Board is also extending support to FCV tobacco farmers under various extension and developmental schemes implemented by it to improve yield and quality of FCV tobacco. Tobacco Board also conducts e-auctions for sale of FCV tobacco on the designated auction platforms of Tobacco Board.

(b)  & (c): The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) is implementing Crop Diversification  Programme  (CDP),  an  ongoing  sub-scheme  of Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY)  to  encourage  tobacco  growing  farmers  to  shift  to alternative  crops/cropping  system  w.e.f.  2015-16.  Tobacco  growing  states  namely  Andhra Pradesh,  Bihar,  Gujarat,  Karnataka,  Odisha,  Tamil  Nadu,  Telangana,  Uttar  Pradesh  and West  Bengal  implemented  the  programme.  However,  Department  of  Agriculture,  State Government of Maharashtra has not implemented the scheme due to negligible area under tobacco in the state. An amount of Rs. 667.00 lakh as Central Share has been allocated to implementing states during 2019-20 for implementation of the programme on 60:40 sharing basis between Government of India and State Governments.

As a policy, Tobacco Board under Ministry of Commerce and Industry is not granting registration  to  new  growers  and  not  issuing  any  licenses  for  construction  of  new  barns creating additional curing infrastructure and not expanding FCV tobacco cultivation to new areas and thereby restricting horizontal expansion of tobacco.

(d): The tobacco area in the country has reduced from 4.67 lakh hectares (during 201415)  to  3.96  lakh  hectares  (during  2017-18).  State-wise  details  of  area  under  tobacco cultivation is at Annexure.

(e): Under  CDP,  tobacco  growing  states  have  been  given  flexibility  to  take  suitable activities  /  interventions  to  shift  from  tobacco  crops  to  alternative  agricultural/horticultural crops. For motivating the farmers, states may also organize study tours / exposure visits and campaigns  etc.  for  highlighting  harmful  effects  of  tobacco  and  long  term  benefits  of alternative crops. Government of India also provide flexibility to the states for state specific needs/priorities under RKVY.

(f): DAC&FW is not implementing any scheme for promotion of tobacco cultivation. Data on the number of farmers / women and children involved in tobacco farming in India are not maintained at DAC&FW level.

However,  Tobacco  Board  under  Ministry  of  Commerce  and  Industry  has  reported that 87,119 FCV tobacco growers registered during 2018-19 in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana and Odisha states. Among these, there are 20223 women FCV tobacco growers. Tobacco Board is ensuring that registered tobacco farmers does not use child labour in FCV tobacco cultivation.

## Annexure

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2038 due for reply on 03.03.2020

| State-wise area under tobacco cultivation during the period 2013-14 to 2017-18   | State-wise area under tobacco cultivation during the period 2013-14 to 2017-18   | State-wise area under tobacco cultivation during the period 2013-14 to 2017-18   | State-wise area under tobacco cultivation during the period 2013-14 to 2017-18   | State-wise area under tobacco cultivation during the period 2013-14 to 2017-18   | State-wise area under tobacco cultivation during the period 2013-14 to 2017-18   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| State                                                                            | Area ('000 Hectares)                                                             | Area ('000 Hectares)                                                             | Area ('000 Hectares)                                                             | Area ('000 Hectares)                                                             | Area ('000 Hectares)                                                             |
|                                                                                  | 2013-14                                                                          | 2014-15                                                                          | 2015-16                                                                          | 2016-17                                                                          | 2017-18                                                                          |
| Andhra Pradesh                                                                   | 143.00                                                                           | 139.00                                                                           | 98.00                                                                            | 78.00                                                                            | 83.00                                                                            |
| Assam                                                                            | 0.26                                                                             | 0.26                                                                             | 0.24                                                                             | 0.23                                                                             | 0.15                                                                             |
| Bihar                                                                            | 12.11                                                                            | 10.59                                                                            | 9.10                                                                             | 10.05                                                                            | 10.89                                                                            |
| Gujarat                                                                          | 137.00                                                                           | 166.00                                                                           | 198.00                                                                           | 167.00                                                                           | 174.00                                                                           |
| Karnataka                                                                        | 109.00                                                                           | 94.00                                                                            | 84.00                                                                            | 90.00                                                                            | 95.00                                                                            |
| Kerala                                                                           | 0.01                                                                             | NA                                                                               | NA                                                                               | 0.01                                                                             | 0.01                                                                             |
| Madhya Pradesh                                                                   | 0.20                                                                             | NA                                                                               | NA                                                                               | NA                                                                               | NA                                                                               |
| Maharashtra                                                                      | 2.00                                                                             | 1.00                                                                             | 2.00                                                                             | 0.80                                                                             | 1.00                                                                             |
| Meghalaya                                                                        | 0.78                                                                             | NA                                                                               | 0.79                                                                             | 0.80                                                                             | 0.80                                                                             |
| Mizoram                                                                          | 0.14                                                                             | 0.12                                                                             | 0.35                                                                             | 0.22                                                                             | 0.34                                                                             |
| Odisha                                                                           | 1.69                                                                             | 1.59                                                                             | 1.60                                                                             | 0.60                                                                             | NA                                                                               |
| Rajasthan                                                                        | 0.37                                                                             | 0.47                                                                             | 0.54                                                                             | 0.45                                                                             | 0.35                                                                             |
| Tamil Nadu                                                                       | 3.73                                                                             | 5.49                                                                             | 3.35                                                                             | 1.80                                                                             | 3.79                                                                             |
| Telangana                                                                        | 7.00                                                                             | 6.00                                                                             | 6.00                                                                             | 7.00                                                                             | 4.00                                                                             |
| Uttar Pradesh                                                                    | 26.00                                                                            | 31.00                                                                            | 31.64                                                                            | 27.00                                                                            | 23.00                                                                            |
| West Bengal                                                                      | 12.57                                                                            | 12.00                                                                            | 15.07                                                                            | 15.68                                                                            | NA                                                                               |
| All India                                                                        | 455.86                                                                           | 467.53                                                                           | 450.69                                                                           | 399.63                                                                           | 396.32                                                                           |

Source:  Directorate  of  Economics  and  Statistics,  Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  and Farmers Welfare.

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