Government approves Rs 28.11 crore to provide relief to tobacco farmers of Andhra affected by Cyclone Mandus

Tags: National News

Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal has approved Rs 28.11 crore for giving a special interest-free loan of Rs 10,000 to each member of Tobacco Board's Grower Welfare Schemes under southern regions.

An overview of the news

• This will directly benefit over 28,000 tobacco farmers affected by Cyclone Mandus in Andhra Pradesh.

• The interest-free loan to eligible FCV tobacco farmers will be administered by the Tobacco Board, a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

• This measure will help FCV tobacco farmers to recover from the damage caused by Mandus cyclonic rains and will greatly help the growers to take immediate damage reduction measures.

About FCV Tobacco 

• FCV (Flu Cured Virginia) tobacco is a major commercial crop grown in 10 districts of Andhra Pradesh with an annual production of 121 million kg (2021-22) in an area of 66,000 hectares.

• It is a major exportable tobacco variety of the total unmanufactured tobacco exports from India.

• Of the total unmanufactured tobacco exports (excluding tobacco waste) during FY 2021-22, FCV tobacco exports constituted 53.62% in volume terms and 68.47% in value terms.

• Tobacco farmers sell their produce through an e-auction platform developed and operated by the Tobacco Board through a transparent process that ensures fair and remunerative prices.

Cyclone Mandous

• Mandus is a slow moving cyclone.

• It often absorbs a lot of moisture, rains heavily and is powerful with wind speed.

• The name of Mandous has been suggested by the United Arab Emirates.

• This cyclone affected a large number of tobacco farmers in Andhra Pradesh in early December 2022.