The anticipated yield of tobacco in Karnataka is expected to increase marginally this year to 85.16 million kg from the 84.86 million kg last year.
| Photo Credit: KOMMURI SRINIVAS
Auction of tobacco cultivated in Karnataka is set to begin from October 8 across 10 platforms amid reports of buoyancy in the international demand for the commodity.
While the Tobacco Board had authorised a crop size of 100 million kg for Karnataka for the year 2025, the board is anticipating a yield of only around 85.16 million kg. However, unlike last year, when a substantial proportion of the yield was either low grade or medium grade, this year’s output is expected to have a comparatively higher share of bright grade variety.
“We are expecting a good price this year in view of the good international demand for tobacco cultivated in this region. Besides, the average price could go up in view of the higher proportion of bright grade variety”, said secretary of the Federation of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) Tobacco Growers’ Associations of Karnataka Vikram Raj Urs.
During last year’s auctions, which was held between October 2024 and April 2025, a total of 84.86 million kg of tobacco was marketed at an average price of ₹257.62 per kg. While the bright grade variety comprised 19.5 million kg, commanding a price of ₹309.18 per kg, the medium grade comprised 33.89 million kg and fetched an average price of ₹ 284.50 per kg. The low grade variety accounted for 33.27 million kg and fetched an average price of ₹186.79 per kg.
The board has predicted a higher share for bright grade variety for the coming auction season in view of the good weather conditions and timely supply of fertilizers. Timely monsoon rains for sowing and less rains during curing is expected to contribute to a rise in the bride grade variety.
Though the anticipated yield of tobacco is expected to increase marginally this year to 85.16 million kg from the 84.86 million kg last year, the area under cultivation of tobacco in the State had come down from 69,049 hectares during 2024 to 66,987 hectares during 2025.
Karnataka has 39,585 authorised growers, who together account for about 50,000 licenses. The board has estimated there are about 12,689 farmers, who had cultivated tobacco without license this year. The quantity of tobacco cultivated without license as well as the the tobacco grown excess of authorisation by the licensed tobacco is expected to account for around 10 million kg this year, which is about the same quantity as last year.
A large proportion of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco cultivated in Karnataka is exported to major cigarette manufacturers across the world.
Much of tobacco cultivated in Karnataka is grown in Mysuru’s Periyapatna, Hunsur and H.D. kote taluks, besides Arakalgud and Ramanathapura in adjoining Hassan district.
Of the 10 auction platforms in the State, four are situated in Hunsur taluk, including one in Chilkunda, three in Periyapatna taluk and one in H D Kote taluk. Two more are situated in Ramanathapura of Hassan district. The auction season is expected to continue till April 2026.
Published – October 07, 2025 08:39 am IST
