The Tobacco Board has raised the 2017-2018 crop allotment for the Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka growing regions to 136 million kg, The Hindu reported.

The increase represents a 4.41 per cent hike from the previous growing season, according to remarks reported by The Hindu. The allotment breaks down to 46 million kg each for Northern and Southern Light Soils, 40 million kg for Southern Black Soils and 4 million kg for Northern Black Soils, the newspaper said. Growers have protested reductions in their allotment and pressure put on them to grow alternative crops, The Hindu said.