India has exported tobacco and tobacco products worth INR 6,880.21 crore (USD 831 million) in 2021-22, reports The Hindu.
Compared to 2020-21, the growth in exports in 2021-22 in terms of quantity, value in rupees and value in US dollars is 1.35 per cent, 5.91 per cent and 5.34 per cent, respectively, A. Sridhar Babu, Executive Director, Indian Tobacco Board, told The Hindu.
With 53.62 per cent by volume and 68.47 per cent by value, Flue-cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco accounted for a major share of total unmanufactured tobacco exports from India. “India is the fourth largest producer of FCV tobacco in the world and third largest exporter. It is exporting FCV tobacco to more than 50 countries,” he said and continued: “In Andhra Pradesh, it is grown in 10 districts with an annual production of around 121 million kg (2021-22) by 43,000 growers cultivating in an area of 66,000 ha.” The standing crop was badly affected by Cyclone Mandous in December 2022 in the southern region of Andhra Pradesh. Of the 53,500 hectares under FCV tobacco cultivation, 26,197 hectares of the crop was badly affected, forcing farmers to replant.