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 three categories:
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Best Farmers Awards
- Sustainability Awards
- Recognition Awards
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.
24th TII Tobacco Farmers’ Awards held in Devarapalli, Andhra Pradesh
The Tobacco Institute of India (TII) organized the 24th edition of the TII Tobacco Farmers’ Awards on July 10 at Devarapalli to honour progressive farmers from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Alongside, the Institute held the inaugural edition of TII Tobacco Scientist Awards to recognize the research and commitment of agricultural scientists working in the field of tobacco farming. This new award would be presented annually to scientists who have made significant contribution towards Tobacco crop research and crop development.
A total of 13 tobacco farmers were honoured during the ceremony in four separate categories — Lifetime Achievement Awards (2 recipients), Best Farmer Awards (5 recipients) Sustainability Awards (2 recipients) and Recognition Awards (4 recipients). TII introduced Sustainability Awards in Karnataka edition of the Awards in 2023 to showcase the benefits of sustainable farming practices and protection of the environment. Further, 3 agricultural scientists were honoured with the 1st TII Tobacco Scientist Awards.
The awards ceremony was attended by the Hon’ble Members of Parliament, Smt. D. Purandeswari (Rajahmundry) and Shri Putta Mahesh Kumar (Eluru); Hon’ble Member of Legislative Assembly, Shri Maddipati Venkata Raju; Chairman, Tobacco Board, Shri Yashwanth Kumar; Vice Chairman, Tobacco Board, Shri G. Vasu Babu; Director, Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI), Dr. M. Sheshu Madhav; Secretary, Tobacco Board, Shri D. Venugopal and District President, BJP, Shri Bommula Dattu. Besides, more than 800 tobacco farmers, Government officials, Industry representatives and Media representatives attended the Awards function in large numbers.
