About Tobacco Board of India:
- It is a statutory body established on 1st January 1976 by an Act of Parliament “Tobacco Board Act, 1975 (Act 4 of 1975)”.
- The Board is headed by a chairperson and is responsible for the development of the tobacco industry.
- Functions:
- The primary function of the Board is export promotion of all varieties of tobacco and its allied products, its functions extend to production, distribution (for domestic consumption and exports) and regulation of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco.
- It ensures the smooth functioning of the farming system and to ensure fair and remunerative prices for tobacco farmers and the promotion of exports.
- Financial assistance is extended to farmers through banks, along with the necessary inputs for the production of quality tobacco.
- The Board also engages in extension and developmental activities to promote sustainable tobacco cultivation practices.
- The Board supports farmers by providing handholding assistance to produce tobacco of requisite quality to meet the standards of importing countries.
- Headquarters: Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry
India’s Tobacco Industry:
- India is the 2nd largest producer of tobacco in the world after China.
- India is the 4th largest producer of FCV tobacco in the world after China, Brazil and Zimbabwe.
- India is the 2nd largest exporter of unmanufactured tobacco (quantity terms) after Brazil.
