Tobacco auctions set to start throughout 10 platforms in Karnataka from October 8

Auction of tobacco cultivated in Karnataka is about to start from October 8 throughout 10 platforms amid experiences of buoyancy within the worldwide demand for the commodity.

While the Tobacco Board had authorised a crop measurement of 100 million kg for Karnataka for the 12 months 2025, the board is anticipating a yield of solely round 85.16 million kg. However, in contrast to final 12 months, when a considerable proportion of the yield was both low grade or medium grade, this 12 months’s output is anticipated to have a relatively increased share of shiny grade selection.

“We expect a great worth this 12 months in view of the great worldwide demand for tobacco cultivated on this area. Besides, the typical worth may go up in view of the upper proportion of shiny grade selection”, mentioned secretary of the Federation of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) Tobacco Growers’ Associations of Karnataka Vikram Raj Urs.

During final 12 months’s auctions, which was held between October 2024 and April 2025, a complete of 84.86 million kg of tobacco was marketed at a median worth of ₹257.62 per kg. While the intense grade selection comprised 19.5 million kg, commanding a worth of ₹309.18 per kg, the medium grade comprised 33.89 million kg and fetched a median worth of ₹ 284.50 per kg. The low grade selection accounted for 33.27 million kg and fetched a median worth of ₹186.79 per kg.

The board has predicted the next share for shiny grade selection for the approaching public sale season in view of the great climate circumstances and well timed provide of fertilizers. Timely monsoon rains for sowing and fewer rains throughout curing is anticipated to contribute to an increase within the bride grade selection.

Though the anticipated yield of tobacco is anticipated to extend marginally this 12 months to 85.16 million kg from the 84.86 million kg final 12 months, the realm beneath cultivation of tobacco within the State had come down from 69,049 hectares throughout 2024 to 66,987 hectares throughout 2025.

Karnataka has 39,585 authorised growers, who collectively account for about 50,000 licenses. The board has estimated there are about 12,689 farmers, who had cultivated tobacco with out license this 12 months. The amount of tobacco cultivated with out license in addition to the the tobacco grown extra of authorisation by the licensed tobacco is anticipated to account for round 10 million kg this 12 months, which is about an identical quantity as final 12 months.

A big proportion of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco cultivated in Karnataka is exported to main cigarette producers internationally.

Much of tobacco cultivated in Karnataka is grown in Mysuru’s Periyapatna, Hunsur and H.D. kote taluks, in addition to Arakalgud and Ramanathapura in adjoining Hassan district.

Of the ten public sale platforms within the State, 4 are located in Hunsur taluk, together with one in Chilkunda, three in Periyapatna taluk and one in H D Kote taluk. Two extra are located in Ramanathapura of Hassan district. The public sale season is anticipated to proceed until April 2026.