India registered fall in tobacco production in FY12

NEW DELHI: India has posted decline in production, consumption and also export of tobacco and tobacco products during the financial year 2011-12 as compared to the fiscal year 2009-10. During FY12, India saw tobacco production of 670 million kgs and consumption of 475 million kgs. In FY10, the tobacco output was at 757 million kgs and consumption stood at 501 million kgs.

The overall area under tobacco cultivation during 2009-10 stood at 2.56 lakh hectare which has rose to 2.68 lakh hectare during 2010-11. The total area under tobacco cultivation during 2011-12 has fallen to 2.17 lakh hectare.

Centre has bagegd representations/ appeals seeking ban on smoke / tobacco consumption. With the aim to save the citizens, with special attention to risk groups such as pregnant women and children, and to discourage consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products 'The Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, (COTPA), 2003' was enacted.

This information has been given by Jyotiradiya M. Scindia, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.