New Delhi, 25 September (H.S.): The Central Government has provided major relief to tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh by permitting the sale of additional flue-cured Virginia tobacco produced by both registered and unregistered farmers during the 2025-26 crop season through auction platforms authorised by the Tobacco Board.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Commerce, registered farmers will now be able to sell their excess tobacco, while unregistered farmers will be permitted to sell their unauthorised tobacco through auction platforms recognised by the Tobacco Board. Flue-cured tobacco is a type of tobacco that is cured in specially designed, smoke-free barns using heat conveyed through metal pipes, known as flues.

According to the notification issued by the Ministry on September 24, the Central Government has relaxed the implementation of a provision under the Tobacco Board Act governing tobacco auctions in Andhra Pradesh during the 2025-26 crop season.

A team led by Nitin Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, had visited Andhra Pradesh in July to review the prevailing market conditions for the tobacco.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar