FCV tobacco farmers in A.P. voice concerns over slow procurement, plummeting prices

Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco farmers in Andhra Pradesh have voiced concern over the slow pace of procurement during the ongoing auction season. They complain that the purchases and prices are significantly lower than last year. The issue was discussed at a stakeholders' meeting convened by the Tobacco Board in Guntur on Monday, where the officials urged farmers and traders to participate more actively in the auction process. FCV tobacco procurement in Andhra Pradesh began on March 25, 2026, in the first phase and was expanded on April 9 under the second phase. Auctions are currently being conducted across all 16 auction platforms in the State. However, procurement has remained sluggish even as farmers continue to bring produce to the market. According to the Tobacco Board’s estimates, Andhra Pradesh produced around 232 million kg of FCV tobacco during the 2025-26 cropping season against the authorised crop size of 142 million kg. Despite the huge output, only 13.5 million kg of produce has been procured through the auction platforms so far, when compared with more than 50 million kg during the corresponding period last year. Farmers are also worried about the declining prices. The average auction price this season stands at ₹233 per kg, down from ₹259 per kg last year. The highest bids have also fallen sharply. During the previous season, the highest price touched ₹456 per kg in the Rajahmundry region and ₹367 per kg in the Prakasam-Nellore region. In the current season, the highest bids recorded so far are ₹266 per kg in Rajahmundry and ₹252 per kg in the Prakasam-Nellore region. Speaking to The Hindu, Tobacco Board Chairman Yashwanth Kumar Chidipothu said the Board had fixed weekly procurement targets for traders and advised farmers to bring properly graded tobacco to auction platforms. He said farmers should bring bright, medium and low-grade tobacco separately to secure better prices. He noted that traders were reluctant to purchase low-grade produce, and the matter was discussed extensively during the meeting. Auctions in Karnataka, which were expected to conclude between October and February, had been extended due to poor prices and were likely to be completed this week, he said. Tobacco Board Executive Director Vishwasree B. said three key decisions were discussed at the meeting— setting weekly procurement targets for traders, encouraging farmers to bring quality produce for auction, and convening a Board meeting next month to determine the crop size for the upcoming agricultural season. She expressed confidence that tobacco sales would improve in the coming weeks, saying that domestic cigarette manufacturers had been urged to increase procurement amid fluctuations in international markets. Meanwhile, farmer leader and former Tobacco Board Vice-Chairman Boddapati Brahmaiah said the growers had no objection to bringing their produce to auction platforms, provided traders were willing to purchase it at remunerative prices.