CHEWING TOBACCO (KHAINE) (MIRAJ TYPE)

The use of tobacco originated in America, and the name is probably derived from the original work used to describe the pipes employed by the carile Indians for smoking the weed. Tobacco is said to have been introduced into India in the beginning of 17th century. As else where in the world, It has thrived inspite of considerable neglect and social disapproal. The genus Nicotiana is one of the five large genera of solanaceae, and is represented by about 60 recognised speceis. Out of the 60 species only two species Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana rustica most popular and are used in different ways. There is no variely that is grown appreciably to any extent either for chewing or for snuff and usually the same variety is consumed in a number of forms. Thus the “Monnakappal” “Olsikappal” “Vettakappal” and Yerumaikappal varieties grown in the districts of madurai, Tiruchirapalli and Coimbatore of Tamil Nadu, the Desi variety grown in Bihar and used in hookah, the Desi tobacco of Assam and U.P. and Jati of west Bengal are also for chewing. The kali chopadia and Jueli tobaccos of Gujrat area are also largely used for chewing and snuff. Generally leaf with medium to thick texture and pungent aroma is selected for chewing and snuff colour plays a less important part, but for snuffs darker coloured leaf is sellected presumably as an indication of strength. There are, however, certain varieties which are mostly used for chewing and snuff, eg puchakkad tobacco, the leaves of which are dark brown and medium in texture grown is S. Kanara district of Karnataka. Nicotiana rustica, leaves of `Motihari’ grown in West Bengal, of Vilayaati in Assam and Bihar and Kolkata in Punjab and U.P, which are well developed thick in texture with bitter aroma and biting tast, are selected for chewing and snuff. The tobacco cultivation and industry have made a steady progress from the beginning of the current century but for short set-back immediately after and portion in 1947. Because of partition the valuable cigar wrapper tobacco growing areas in Rangpur went to Pakistan, now Bangladesh. In spite of this during the three decades 1950-51 to 1980-81 there has been a substantial increase in the area and production of tobacco particularly of the flev-cured varginia type used in the manufacture of cigarettes. Tobacco is cultivated over an area of about 5 lakh hectares with an annual production ranging from 400 to 500 million kg. As compared to the area under F.C.V. tobacco in 1950-51 which was only 40,000 hectares, the area at present under this type of extends over 170-200 thousand hectares. The production of F.C.V. tobacco has also significantly increased from about 40 million kg. in 1950-51 to the present level of 150 million kg. Chewing tobacco is cultivated predominantly in Bihar, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu and to some extent in Utter Pradesh, Punjab, Orissa and Kerala. Good variety of tobacco of desired quantity is available at caonporej U.P.