No-Tobacco Day is celebrated every year on 31 May to highlight the dangers of tobacco and to stop it.
Tobacco causes 15 types of cancer. The report of the American Oncology Institute says, tobacco is not limited to cancer only, it also increases the risk of heart and lung diseases. From chewing tobacco to smoking cigarettes, hookah and cigars, it is affecting the body in many ways. Some selected countries of the world cultivate tobacco and sell it and are becoming rich. China ranks first in growing the maximum amount of tobacco in the world. It is also cultivated in India. Gujarat is at the forefront in its production. On the occasion of World No-Tobacco Day, know which are the maximum tobacco growing states in India, how Gujarat came to the forefront and how many countries buy tobacco from India.
Indian Government figures show that the income of farmers in the country has doubled through tobacco cultivation. In the year 2019-20, it was sold at Rs 124 per kg, which increased to Rs 279.54 per kg in 2023-24. The Government of India claims that the Tobacco Board is continuously making strategies to increase its production and exports and its effect is also visible.
In how many states is tobacco grown?
Gujarat is ahead in growing tobacco the most in the country, but it is also grown in many other states. After Gujarat, there are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Tobacco production is different in every state. Let us understand from the table how much tobacco is produced in which state of the country.
| rank | State | Share of tobacco production (%) | Major tobacco producing districts |
| 1 | Gujarat | 41% | Saurashtra, North Gujarat |
| 2 | Andhra Pradesh | 22% | Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna |
| 3 | Karnataka | 16% | Shivamogga, Chitradurga, Tumkur |
| 4 | Telangana | 11% | Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal |
| 5 | Uttar Pradesh. | 5% | Jhansi, Mahoba, Banda |
| 6 | Rajasthan | 4% | Kota, Bundi, Baran |
| 7 | west bengal | 3% | Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling |
| 8 | Tamil Nadu | 2% | Dindigul, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai |
| 9 | Madhya Pradesh | 1% | Sehore, Dewas, Rajgarh |
| 10 | Maharashtra | 1% | Hingoli, Nanded, Latur |
How did Gujarat become a stronghold of tobacco?
It is not for nothing that Gujarat is at the forefront in the production of tobacco in the country. There are many reasons behind this.
Tobacco plant.
1- Magic of soil: black and sandy, both beneficial
Gujarat has both black and sandy soil. The soil of Anand, Kheda and Vadodara districts of Gujarat is considered best for tobacco. The black cotton soil here remains moist for a long time. At the same time, parts of northern Gujarat have sandy soil which helps the roots of tobacco to spread. This coordination is rarely found all over India.
Excessive cold damages tobacco leaves and production falls. Photo: Unsplash
2- Blessing of the weather: Neither much rain, nor much cold.
Tobacco needs a climate in which there is neither too much rain nor too much cold. This situation prevails during its production in Gujarat from October to March. Whereas in Bihar and UP it is coldest during this period. Cold spoils the quality of leaves. In dry days in Gujarat, the leaf dries well and better quality tobacco is prepared.
3- The special variety here is the backbone of business.
Gujarat mainly grows Nicotiana tabacum variety which is the backbone of the beedi industry. It has been cultivated in Gujarat from generation to generation. As a result, farmers have developed special skills in growing it and they understand its merits and demerits. Due to its precision, the farmers here know when to sow it, when to harvest it and how to dry it.
Gujarat mainly grows Nicotiana tabacum variety which is the backbone of the beedi industry.
4- Processing facility
Old infrastructure for curing, grading and packaging of tobacco already exists in Gujarat. There are decades old mandis in Anand district of the state where traders reach directly. The procurement centers of many big companies including ITC are here. As a result, farmers do not have to work very hard to deliver their crops to the buyer.
5- Experience and government policy increased income
The experience of farmers of Gujarat regarding tobacco production is impressive. Farmers of Gujarat are associated with the Tobacco Board of India. From here they get the benefits of MSP, technical assistance and exports. The farmers of Gujarat did not have the understanding and experience of growing tobacco from generation to generation that the new states formed later did not have. That’s why Gujarat tops in its production.
America is the largest buyer of Indian tobacco. Photo: Unsplash
To how many countries does India export tobacco?
Indian government figures show that America is the largest buyer of Indian tobacco. 18 percent of total tobacco exports go to America. After this, UAE (8.23%), Netherlands (5.16%), China (3.85%), Singapore (3.33%), UK (3.00%), Saudi Arabia (2.67%), Bangladesh (2.55%), Germany (2.27%), and Italy (2.02%) also buy tobacco from India.
Also read: Which Indian mango do the people of Japan eat the most? which was banned
