tobacco

TOBACCO

It is one of the most important each crops of pakistan.It is extremely adaptable plant,is cultivated in practically all parts of the country from the hilly and arid regions of the north west to sandy areas of the south.The KPK produces the popular brand virgania.

"Smoking may not  be good for health but is certainly good for numerous national economic around the world and pakistan is no exception.."

Tobacco industry growing  manufacturing  distribution and retailing  contributed 4.4 per cent or over Rs.46.70 billion to total GDP 2009/ 10 of pakistan including Rs. 24.54 billion in excise duty and sales tax.It is the single biggest contribute of excise duty six times than that from cotton yarn. Over 5 per cent of all taxes collected in the country come from the tobacco industry.Tobacco is the only crop grown in pakistan whose yield is well above the world averageand matches the per hectare yield in the US and other developed countries an average yield of 1,900 kilograms per hectare. Tobacco industry growing manufacturing and retailing employs over one milion persons directly or indirectly. Manufacturing employs the highest number of persons 35 per cent followed by 33 per cent by growing and 32 per cent in distribution and retail.

Kinds of tobacco:

1. flue cured virginia FCV tobacco

2.dark air cured DAC  tobacco

3.white patta WP tobacco

4.burley tobacco

5.hukkah tobacco

6.naswar tobacco..

TOBACCO CULTIVATION:

PALNTATION;

Tobacco seed are scattered onto the surface of the soil.Seedbeds are fertilized with wood ash or animal manure.Seedbeds are then covered with branches to protect the young plants from the frost damage.These plants are left to grow until around april.

After the plants have reached a certain height they are transplanted into fields.This is done by making holes in the cultivated earth and then place the small plant in the holes.Various mechanical tobacco planters were invented during late 19th  and early 20th century to automate this process.

HARVESTING;

Tobacco is harvested in ttwo ways.

1.In the oldest method the entire plant is harvested at once by cutting off the stalk at the ground with a stickle.

2. In the 19th century bright began to be harvested by picking individual leaves off the stalk as they ripened.The leaves ripen from the ground upwards so a field of tobacco may go through several pickings before the tobacco is entirely harvested and the stalks may be turned into the soil or take away to use as fuel/other purposes....