NON-FCV TOBACCO

Tobacco is one of the important commercial crops grown in India. It contributes revenue generation to an extent of ~Rs 28000 crores including excise revenue and export earnings. Different tobacco types such as Flue Cured Virginia (FCV), Burley, Oriental, Bidi, Natu/ Pikka, Chewing and Rustica are grown under diverse agro-climatic conditions. To address the location specific needs of different tobacco types, the All India Coordinated Project on Tobacco was established by Indian Council of Agricultural Research during 1970-71 with the headquarters of the Coordinating unit at Anand (Gujarat). The headquarters was subsequently shifted to ICAR-CTRI, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh on 16-08-1998. Further, the AICRP on Tobacco was renamed as All India Network Research Project on Tobacco and kept under the administrative control of the Director, ICAR-CTRI, Rajahmundry. A total of numbers of 14 centres (3 Main centres, 7 sub-centres and 4 voluntary centres) are functioning at present. The three main network centres of AINPT are located at Rajahmundry, Shivamogga and Anand; the seven sub-centres at Nipani, Nandyal, Berhampur, Araul, Dinhata, Guntur and Hunsur. The four voluntary centers of AINPT are functioning at Ladol, Jeelugumilli, Kandukur and Vedasandur. The centres at Rajahmundry, Guntur, Hunsur and Dinhata are functioning under the administrative control of ICAR-Central Tobacco Research Institute (ICAR-CTRI), Rajahmundry. Anand, Shivamogga, Nipani, Nandyal, Berhampur and Araul centres are under the administrative control of respective Universities, viz., Anand Agricultural University, Anand; University of Horticulture and Agricultural Sciences, Shivamogga; University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad; Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur; Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar and Chandra Sekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, respectively. AINPT Co-ordination Unit at Rajahmundry co-ordinates activities of all the centres and monitors the research programmes through four Project Investigators located at ICAR-CTRI, Rajahmundry. It also co-ordinates resource activities of different centres and also with ICAR on all the administrative, financial and issues related to the coordinating centres and ensure implementation of all the mandated programmes as per the guidelines of ICAR. Mandate Tobacco improvement through co-ordinated multi-disciplinary and multi-location research on different tobacco types (FCV, Bidi, Natu, Chewing and Hookah etc.) grown in their respective niche areas in the country. Research Programmes 1. Evolving location specific superior varieties/hybrids of different tobaccos. 2. Breeding tobacco varieties tolerant for biotic and abiotic stresses. 3. Evaluation and development of best-bet site specific agro-techniques for enhancing the production efficiency and produce quality. 4. Development of location specific and cost-effective IPM modules for effective management of pest and diseases and to minimize the pesticide residues in tobacco. 5. Screening and identification of genotypes having traits of commercial importance and non-conventional uses. 6. Comparative evaluation of tobacco and non-tobacco based cropping systems that are remunerative and sustainable.