ptb logo
govt-logo

 Tobacco Research:  

1.             The research work is conducted by a team of qualified scientists.   

2.             The Board has constituted Research and Development Committee comprising of scientists/officers from the Board,

                Department of Agriculture, Research Organizations/Ministry of Food & Agriculture, Managers of Tobacco 

                Companies and representatives of Tobacco Growers.    

 3.             The Board prepares an Annual Research and Development Plan before the commencement of crop season.    

 4.             The research work is carried out at the following Research Stations:    

                        a)   Tobacco Research Station, Mardan in KPK for Flue-cured Virginia and Rustica tobacco.   

                        b)   Tobacco Research Sub-station, Mansehra in KPK for Flue-cured Virginia.   

                        c)   Tobacco Research Sub-station, Kunjah-Gujrat in Punjab for Dark air-cured Virginia and Desi/Huqqa tobacco.   

                        d)   Tobacco Research Sub-station, Okara in Punjab for Dark air-cured and Desi/Huqqa tobacco.   

                        e)   Tobacco Model Farm, Buner in KPK for Flue-cured Virginia tobacco.   

                         f)   Tobacco Model Farm, Hazro (Attock) in Punjab for Rustica tobacco.

 5.            Objectives of Research are:

                        a)    To carry out research trials at Tobacco Research Stations for improvement of existing varieties as well as 

                               introduction of  new varieties/hybrids according to prevailing issues like insect pests, disease, drought

                               and zonal suitability.

                        b)    To improve yield of different types of tobacco per unit area through modern techniques.

                        c)    To improve quality to meet the domestic demand and to compete in the International Market for export.

                        d)    To improve the grade index of different types of tobacco.

                        e)    To determine proper dose of fertilizer with proper method of application on proper time.

                        f)    Render soil testing services to tobacco growers. 

                        g)   To reduce the cost of production through awareness of modern pre and post harvesting techniques.

 6.             The Board has set up the following sections for undertaking various research projects. 

                       a)  Plant Breeding:   

                                     Evolution of new varieties with better potentiality of yield, quality and disease resistance through

                                     introduction, selection and hybridization for different regions.   

                       b)  Chemistry:   

                                     To study the chemical constituents of various tobacco varieties with reference to yield, soil and water

                                     analysis, aiming at to make appropriate recommendations to the growers for application of fertilizers

                                     including macro and micro-nutrients and to study NIC, sugar, and other constituents of tobacco leaf.   

                       c)  Agronomy:   

                                     Determination of appropriate plant population, adoption of improved cultural practices and development

                                     of implements for reducing the cost of production of tobacco

                       d)   Plant Protection:        

                                    Study of insects, pests, soil and leaf borne diseases and their control through insecticides, pesticides,   

                                    fungicides and integrated pest management. There are two main branches of plant protection:

                                    i.  Entomology

                                   ii.  Plant Pathology

                                       Entomology:

                                                       Survey of different insect pests of Tobacco in Nursery and field crop in Tobacco growing areas.

                                                       Comparison of different insecticides on the basis of:

                                                        i.  Economical

                                                       ii.  Dose/time of application

                                                      iii.  Methods of application

                                                     iv.   Safety measure

                                        Plant Pathology:

                                                       i.  Survey of different tobacco growing areas to identify different diseases

                                                      ii.  Identification of disease causing organisms

                                                      iii.  Testing and comparison of different varieties for disease resistance

                 Achievements/General Recommendations: 

                              1.    Introduction of improved technology for raising of nursery on raised seed beds instead of flat land

                              2.    Introduction float tray system of nursery raising

                              3.    Recommendation of 1000 sq.ft nursery area/seed bed area for transplantation of one hectare tobacco crop

                              4.    Seed rate recommendations:

                                                 a.   FCV and Burley 1.0 to 1.5 gm per 100 sq.ft area

                                                       (10 gram seed is required for raising one hectare crop area)

                                                 b.    Rustica  4 gm per 100 sq.ft area

                              5.    Fertilizer & Pesticide meetings are carried out on annual basis for the smooth availability of the same

                              6.    Improved tobacco breed/varieties introduced by the Board for general cultivation:

                                     Flue cured Virginia

                                                 Speight G-28, K-399, different hybrid varieties

                                     Rustica

                                                  Rustica-9, Rustica-14, Rustica-Jampur, Rustica-13

                                     Dark-air-cured

                                                 Galpao, MA-2

                                    Burley

                                                 Burley-64

                                                 i.   Introduction of top ridge transplantation for better root development

                                                ii.   Optimum tobacco transplantation time in Pakistan

                                                                      a.   For plain area 1st March to 30th March

                                                                      b.   For sub-mountain area 15th March to 15th April

                                               iii.   Increase of yield from 900 to 2700 kg/ha

                                   Recommended spacing:

                                                  FCV                Row to row = 3 ft and Plant to plant = 2 ft

                                                  Burley             Row to row = 3 ft and Plant to plant = 2 ft

                                                  Rustica            Row to row = 1.5 to 2.0 ft and Plant to plant = 1 ft

                                                  do                  Row to row = 1.5 to 2.0 ft and Plant to plant = 1 ft

                                   Fertilizer Recommendation:

                                                   Type                NPK Kg/hectare

                                                   FCV                60-60-90 (plain area)

                                                   60:60:100 (sub-mountain area)

                                                   Rustica Black Leaf     100:40:40

                                                   Rustica WP                 10-20:40:40

                                                   i.    Method of fertilizer application : Placement method at both side of plant

                                                  ii.    Time of fertilizer application : within one week after transplantation

                                                 iii.    Introduction of mechanization in tobacco like hoeing machine, stitching machine etc.

                                                 iv.    Proper methods for application of insecticides are introduced

                                                  v.    Integrated pest/disease management programme has been recommended for the control of 

                                                         insects/pests and diseases of tobacco 

                                                 vi.   The use of chlorinated pesticides has been banned on tobacco crop

                                                vii.    For quality tobacco production, topping/desuckering recommended at button stage leaving

                                                        22-24 leaves on the plant.

                                               viii.   Growers are advised to pick the mature/ripe leaf for curing.

                                                ix.    Introduction of modified curing barns to save fuel wood and better quality of tobacco.

                                                 x.    Development of new tobacco area of Bajaur for the cultivation of Low Cost Tobacco (SCV).

                Future Plan:

                              i.   Evaluation of new varieties/introduced varieties of all types of tobacco through various breeding methods in 

                                   respect of quality, yield and resistance to disease etc for cultivation under local ecological conditions

                              ii.   Integrated pest management programme for control of insets, pests and diseases of tobacco

                             iii.   Improvement of soil testing services

                             iv.   Upgradation of Research Labs

                              v.   Training of Technical Staff especially on Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, Gas Chromatograph and

                                    Tissue culture

                             vi.    Preparation of Research and Development Plan on problems faced by tobacco growers

                             vii.   Introduction of new technology like drone spray system

                            viii.   Conversion of Conventional Barns into Solar Barns

                              ix.   Updation of Soil Fertility report

                               x.   Publication of Research papers in Pak-Tobacco

                              xi.   Establishment of Tobacco Model Farm at Pishin, Balochistan

                              xii.   Mobilization of Extension staff for better exposure/ achievements

                             xiii.   Efforts to improve grade index of FCV tobacco

“Research and Development is a continuous process and will be carried out continuously for the betterment of tobacco in all

respects”.