RAJESWARI, SKRISHNA TEJA, I2017-02-212017-02-212015http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810001960D5120The present study entitled “Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of Tobacco Cultivation in Nellore and Prakasam Districts of Andhra Pradesh” was undertaken to study socio-economic and environmental impact of tobacco cultivation, impact created by ITC-ILTD among tobacco growers and trends in farmers economics between tobacco and non-tobacco growers. Prakasam and Nellore districts were purposively selected because of their production across 13 Tobacco Auction Platforms (TAPs). 12 tobacco farmers and 6 non-tobacco farmers from each TAP were selected randomly with a sample size of 234. The data related to crop season of 2013-14 were collected using pretested questionnaires through survey method. Conventional analysis was used to analyse the data and arrive at valid conclusions. Majority of farmers in both tobacco and non-tobacco were old aged and under nuclear family. The educational status of tobacco farmers was high when compared to that of non-tobacco farmers. The average size of landholding for tobacco farmers was 5.76 ha and for non-tobacco farmers it was 2.83 ha. Tobacco farmers were getting more credit facilities from commercial banks than that of non-tobacco farmers. Tobacco farming had a positive effect on the household’s income of tobacco farmers. There was a considerable difference between average family expenditure of tobacco and non-tobacco farmers. xiii The value of farm assets of tobacco farmers was greater than that of non-tobacco farmers. At a glance, 96.65 percent of the farmers were satisfied with all the services provided by the company in all aspects viz., required information, timely availability, full information, professionalism and staff attitude. At farm level, per hectare cost of reducing carbon dioxide emitted from cured leaves of FCV tobacco was ` 3,949.08 in Andhra Pradesh level, with a total production of 213.93 million kg of cured leaf, accounting for ` 56.26 crores. The results showed that only paddy crop registered a positive growth in productivity, all tobacco and non-tobacco crops showed a positive growth for the prices in the same period. Among all the crops redgram recorded the highest growth rate (11.05%) in cost of cultivation. The results further revealed that only paddy crop recorded positive growth in net returns and the remaining recorded a negative growth rate. FCV tobacco was more profitable as it earned more net returns and the next best alternate crop was bengalgram in un-irrigated conditions and paddy in irrigated conditions.en-USnullThesis