CHANGING SOCIO-ECONOMIC SCENARIO OF FCV TOBACCO FARMERS IN NLS AREA OF ANDHRA PRADESH

Tobacco is one of the important cash crops cultivated by a substantial portion of the farmers (9,945 FCV & 5,000 Non-FCV) in Northern Light Soil (NLS) region of Andhra Pradesh. The objective of the present study is to examine the changing trend in the socio-economic conditions of the tobacco farmers in NLS area from 1980 onwards. After introduction of high yielding varieties like Mc Nair-12 and Kanchan in NLS area by Central Tobacco Research Institute, Rajahmundry, there is a significant improvement in the yields and net returns of tobacco farmers thereby benefiting them economically. There is a gradual increase in the average price of tobacco during the past four years and the price level reached its peak in the past two years (Rs.99.09 & Rs.128.25). A total of 10 villages and hundred farmers (ten from each village) were selected based on purposive random sampling method. The study revealed that there is a significant change in the socio-economic status of the FCV tobacco farmers in NLS area over a period of thirty years.