YIELD GAINS IN INDIAN FLUE-CURED VIRGINIA TOBACCO: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Tobacco is an important export oriented commercial crop being cultivated over the years in India. A study was conducted to assess the rate of improvement with respect to area, production and productivity in major tobacco types i.e. FCV (Flue Cured Virginia) and non-FCV along with the total tobacco grown in India. The results indicated that total tobacco cultivated area in India remained more or less constant with increase in production and productivity. There is an increase in the FCV tobacco area and reduction in non-FCV area over the years without any substantial improvement in total tobacco area. FCV tobacco recorded higher rate of increase in production compared to non-FCV and vice versa in productivity. Further, except in NBS/CBS zone, improvement was witnessed in the area and production amo ng the different FCV tobacco zones whereas productivity Improvement is there in all the areas. Productivity improvement in all the FCV areas clearly indicates the positive impact of technological interventions of research like improved varieties and cultural practices on increase of per hectare yields. With the advent of these, leaf yield potential in the FCV cultivars reached to 3000 kg/ha. Estimates of projected yield in FCV, non FCV and total tobaccos were ma de based on the existing rates of improvement by the year 2025. Nevertheless, the study indicated a wide scope to improve the productivity and realize leaf yield potential in SLS and KLS areas