Kakinada: The Indian Society of Tobacco Science (ISTS) of Rajamahendravaram is organising an international conference on ‘Frontiers in tobacco and commercial agriculture-preparedness for future farming’ from December 14 to 16 at the NTR Auditorium in Adikavi Nannayya University, Rajamahendravaram.
The central tobacco research institute (CTRI) and ICAR director Maganti Seshu Madhav told the media on Tuesday that the conference aimed at strengthening India’s position as a global exporter of cash crops such as tobacco, chilli, turmeric, castor and Ashwagandha, by providing incentives to enhance productivity, quality, value addition and promoting secondary agriculture in response to climate change, depleting natural resources, low production and productivity.
Prominent academicians, researchers, farmers and industrialists would participate in the programme. The platinum jubilee celebrations of the CTRI would be held on the occasion.
India has 13 per cent of the area of global tobacco crop and 13 per cent of the global production. Tobacco is cultivated in an area of 0.433 million hectares in India and this is second in the world with a production of 758 million kg.
Eighteen types of tobacco are grown in the country. FCV and Burley varieties are cultivated for export purposes. During the year 2022-23, about '9,740 crore was earned through exports and Rs. 23,357 crore through excise revenue.
As a result of the dedication of the scientists, the institute has so far released 103 high-yielding hybrids and varieties. About 120 production and protection technologies have been developed and provided to the farmers, Seshu Madhav said.
CTRI provides 90 per cent of the seed requirement for the cultivation of tobacco crops across the country.
Tobacco production in India has increased 2.8 times in the past seven decades from 275 million kg to 761 million kg.
