Daily News Analysis

Centre Plans Interest-free Loans for Andhra’s Cyclone-hit Tobacco Farmers

stylish_lining

Context: The Central government is considering a proposal to provide interest-free loans to tobacco farmers of Andhra Pradesh impacted by Cyclone Michaung.

News:

Interest-Free Loans for Andhra Tobacco Farmers:

  • Loan Details: Andhra Tobacco farmers are set to receive interest-free loans ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹20,000, with a repayment period of six months. These loans aim to assist in the replanting of tobacco crops.
  • Beneficiaries: Approximately 15,000 tobacco farmers in Andhra Pradesh, who have been affected by the impact of Cyclone Michaung (which made landfall in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu on December 5th), will be eligible for these loans.
  • The proposal for these interest-free loans is being put forth by the Tobacco Board.

About Tobacco Cultivation in India:

  • Production: India holds the position of the world's second-largest tobacco producer, producing approximately 800 million kg annually, following China. Gujarat leads in production, contributing 45% to the total, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
  • Major Export Destinations: India's significant tobacco export destinations include Belgium, the UAE, Indonesia, Russia, Korea, the US, Yemen, Egypt, Singapore, Netherlands, Philippines, Turkey, and Nepal.
  • Cultivation Area: India dedicates around 0.45 million hectares to tobacco cultivation, constituting only 0.31% of the nation's net cultivated area and 10% globally.
  • Growing Conditions:
    • Temperature: Tobacco requires a temperature range of 20 to 30°C, along with a frost-free period lasting 90 to 120 days.
    • Rainfall: A dry period is essential for leaf ripening, and excessive rainfall results in thin and lightweight leaves.
    • Planting and Harvesting: Planting season spans from November-end to mid-January, with harvesting occurring from March to June.
    • Soil: The crop is sensitive to waterlogging and thrives in well-aerated, well-drained soils. The optimal pH range is 5 to 6.5. Flue-cured, light tobacco prefers light sandy soil, while air-cured, dark tobacco is cultivated in silty loam to clay loam.
    • Transplantation: Tobacco is initially sown on seed beds and transplanted 40 to 60 days after sowing when plants reach approximately 15 cm in height.

About the Tobacco Board:

Establishment: The Tobacco Board was formed by the Government of India through the enactment of the Tobacco Board Act in 1975.

Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry is the overseeing ministry for the Tobacco Board.

Headquarters: The Tobacco Board is headquartered in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.

Functions:

  1. Facilitation: The board serves as a facilitator for tobacco growers, traders, and exporters within the industry.
  2. Promotion: It actively promotes all types of tobacco and related products, overseeing their production and distribution for both domestic consumption and exports.
  3. Regulation: The board is responsible for regulating Flue-cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco, ensuring adherence to specified standards and guidelines.

Government Initiatives in the Tobacco Sector:

  • Tobacco Growers Welfare Scheme:The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has sanctioned the establishment of a Tobacco Board's Growers' Welfare Fund, with a total corpus of Rs. 25 crore, aimed at enhancing the welfare of tobacco growers.
  • Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sectors Rejuvenation): This initiative, which is part of a Crop Diversification Programme, encourages tobacco farmers across different states to shift towards cultivating alternative crops, promoting diversification in agriculture.

Understanding the Auditing of Local Bodies

Why is it in the News? The International Centre for Audit of Local Governance (iCAL) was recently inaugurated in Rajkot, Gujarat. This marks a significant step towards setting global standards for
Share It

Bavikonda Monastery: A Historical and Cultural Gem

Current Status Maintenance Issues: Due to recent budget constraints, maintenance and repairs at Bavikonda Monastery have been less than optimal. Tourism Circuit: Bavikonda is part of the '
Share It

CITES Report on Rosewood: “CITES Rosewoods: The Global Picture”

The recently released CITES report titled “CITES Rosewoods: The Global Picture” provides a comprehensive analysis of rosewood species listed under the Convention on International Trade in
Share It

Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)

Recent Developments  India recently took part in the 86th session of the Executive Committee (CCEXEC) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) held in Rome. India’s Support: Sp
Share It

Naturally Existing DNA Editing Tool: Bridge Recombinase Mechanism (BRM)

The Bridge Recombinase Mechanism (BRM) is a newly discovered naturally occurring DNA editing tool. It utilizes mobile genetic elements, commonly known as "jumping genes," to perform DNA mani
Share It

The Delhi Urban Land and Immovable Property Records Bill, 2024

The Delhi Urban Land and Immovable Property Records Bill, 2024, aims to create a unified system for managing urban land and immovable property records in Delhi. This system will be overseen by the Del
Share It

Gig Economy and Recent Developments in Karnataka

Why in the News? The Karnataka government recently published the draft Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, which aims to address the welfare and rights of gig w
Share It

India-Japan Joint Carbon Crediting Mechanism

India and Japan are set to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to establish a Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) under the framework of Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. This mechanism will facilita
Share It

Green Revolution in maize

Context: India has seen significant success with the green revolution in maize production. This success has been primarily driven by the private sector. Over the past 20 years, maize production in Ind
Share It

Captain Supreetha C.T. – First Woman Officer from Corps of Army Air Defence at Siachen Glacier

Name: Captain Supreetha C.T. Hometown: Mysuru, Karnataka Achievement: Captain Supreetha C.T. has become the first woman officer from the Corps of Army Air Defence to be operationally deployed a
Share It

Newsletter Subscription


ACQ IAS
ACQ IAS