India, the world’s second-largest tobacco producer after China, grows about 761 million kilograms of Tobacco over 4.4 lakh hectares in 15 states. In India primarily FCV (Flue-Cured Virginia) tobacco is grown and provides employment to 45.7 million people and significant export revenue. Cultivating export quality tobacco requires precise agronomic practices, strict quality control, and compliance with international standards at every stage

India produces 10 tobacco types—both cigarette (FCV, Burley, Oriental) and non-cigarette types (Bidi, chewing, hookah, cigar). Major types and their regions: 🌱FCV – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka (e.g., CTRI Special, G-11) 🍀Bidi – Gujarat, Karnataka (e.g., Anand 23, Surthi 20) 🌿Cigar/Cheroot – Tamil Nadu, Bihar, West Bengal 🍂Hookah & Chewing Tobacco – Bihar, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, etc. 🍃Others – Pikka in Odisha; Oriental and Jati types in small areas

Tobacco thrives in sunny climates with 20–27°C temperatures and well-drained soils. It is grown in diverse soils from sandy loams to black soils, depending on the type. Optimal soil pH: 5.0–6.5.

Integrated use of FYM, green manures, biofertilizers, and chemical fertilizers (40–50 kg N, 15–20 kg P, 25–50 kg K per acre) improves yield, quality, and soil health.

Due to their tiny size, tobacco seeds are sown in nurseries. Seed beds are well-manured and raised on sandy soils. About 5–6g seeds are needed per acre. Transplanting generally occurs from April to October. Fields are tilled based on soil type. Seedlings are spaced 60–75 cm apart. Around 5,300–6,600 seedlings are required per acre.

Topping (removing terminal buds) and de suckering (removing shoots) help improve leaf size and quality by diverting nutrients from flowers to leaves are important practices to be done

Generally 3–4 weedings, including inter-row cultivation, are done. Pre-emergent herbicides like Alachlor or Pendimethalin are used. Tobacco needs light, frequent irrigation, especially during peak growth (30–50 days). Drip irrigation is effective. Good crop of tobacco can be grown by installing drip irrigation system. Drip has to be operated on a daily basis providing about 3 to 5 liters of water per square meter depending on the crop stage and weather conditions prevalent.

Common pests: aphids, mites, caterpillars; diseases: TMV, black shank, brown spot. Use resistant varieties and recommended agrochemicals.

Two popular methods for harvesting:- Priming – picking mature leaves progressively (FCV, wrapper types) In tobacco, generally, lower leaves mature first followed by upper leaves in regular ascending order. Harvesting is done by removing a few leaves as and when they mature. This method of harvesting is known as priming. Cigarette and wrapper tobaccos are harvested by priming. Stalk-cut – cutting whole plants (bidi, cigar, hookah types): Cigar, cheroot, chewing, bidi and hookah tobaccos are harvested by stalk cut method. In this method, plants are cut close to the ground with a sickle and generally left in the field overnight for wilting. Subsequent handling varies with the method of curing. The correct stage of harvest is when maximum number of leaves mature.

After curing, leaves are graded by sorting leaves into uniform lots according to body, colour and degree of blemish or damage. Most important elements of quality in FCV tobacco are colour, texture, size, blemish, strength, even burning with white ash and agreeable flavors.

Thank you for reading this article, we hope you clicked on the 👍 icon to like the article and also do share it with your friends and family now!