The Tobacco Institute of India (TII) instituted the TII Tobacco Farmers’ Awards in the year 1999 to recognize and encourage the Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco farming community into adopting modern and scientific farming practices. These annual awards seek to facilitate improvement in yields, productivity, quality and global competitiveness of the domestic cigarette tobaccos through adoption of contemporary farming practices.
The response and success of these awards over the years encouraged us to subsequently extend them, in 2009, to include the air-cured varieties of tobacco also.
These awards cover all the tobacco growing regions in the States of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. These tobacco growing regions are Southern Black Cotton Soil (SBCS), Southern Light Soil (SLS), Northern Light Soil (NLS), Karnataka Light Soil (KLS) for FCV tobacco and Vinukonda region for Burley tobacco.
The awards are presented under four categories:
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Best Farmers Awards
- Sustainability Awards
- Recognition Awards
In recognition of the growing emphasis on sustainable agricultural practices in tobacco cultivation for enhanced efficiency and crop quality, the Institute introduced a new award category viz., ‘Sustainability Awards’ from 2023 onwards.
Selection process and criteria
The selection and finalisation process begins at the end of the marketing season when farmers are shortlisted on the basis of adoption of contemporary and progressive farm practices during the season. The criteria being considered in the selection process include the following:
- Good agricultural practices, e.g., soil and water conservation, integrated pest and crop management, on farm storage etc.
- Curing and barn management, including fuel efficiency.
- Yield per hectare, grade outturn, elimination of non-tobacco related materials (NTRMs) etc.
- Overall social contribution.
The criteria for the Lifetime Achievement Award are slightly broader than the other two categories. This award, in addition to recognizing scientific and innovative farming practices over a longer span of time, also recognizes the leadership provided to the community on good agricultural practices and industry issues.
This annual awards ceremony also provides a platform for all stakeholders in tobacco sector to meet and interact on issues of common interest, particularly regarding farming practices and policy formation.
Silver Jubilee of TII Tobacco Farmers’ Awards held in Mysuru, Karnataka
The Tobacco Institute of India (TII) organized the Silver Jubilee of the TII Tobacco Farmers’ Awards Ceremony on June 3, 2025 at Mysuru to honour progressive farmers from Karnataka.
A total of 10 tobacco farmers were honoured during the ceremony in four separate categories — Lifetime Achievement Awards (1 recipient), Best Farmer Awards (4 recipients), Sustainability Awards (2 recipients) and Recognition Awards (3 recipients).
A commemorative Picture Book, capturing the glorious 25-year journey of these Awards, was also released on the occasion.
The awards ceremony was attended by Shri K. Venkatesh, Hon’ble Minister for Animal Husbandry & Sericulture, Govt. of Karnataka; Shri Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Mysuru & Kodagu; Shri Yashwanth Kumar Chidipothu, Chairman of Tobacco Board; Shri B. C. Srinivas, IRS, Director (Auctions), Tobacco Board; and Dr. S. Ramakrishnan, Principal Scientist & Head, CTRI Research Station, Hunsur. Besides, more than 800 tobacco farmers, Government officials, Industry representatives and Media representatives attended the Awards function in large numbers.
Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Siddaramaiah conveyed his best wishes for the Silver Jubilee celebrations of TII Awards. In his message, Shri Siddaramaiah appreciated the dedication and resilience of tobacco farmers, whose contributions have been pivotal to the agricultural and economic fabric of our nation. Notably, Shri Siddaramiah was the Chief Guest at the 5th edition of the TII Awards, held in Mysuru in the year 2005.
