Research Article
M. MAHADEVAMURTHY
Abstract
A study was carried out to assess the fuel wood requirement for tobacco curing in Periyapatna and Hunsur taluk in Mysore of Karnataka which is one of the major tobacco growing areas in Karnataka. Studies were conducted to assess (1) socio-economic background of the respondents (2) Landholding position and cropping pattern followed (3) Source of tobacco curing and consumption of fuel wood. The study revealed that the economy of the farming community is dependent mainly on tobacco crop and most of the farmers are dependent on fuel wood for heating barns used for tobacco curing. The average family size was 4 members engaged in agriculture. The average land holding was 6.73 acres. Both men and women collected fuel wood from the nearly forest which is about 1Km from the village, however 2/3 of the respondent farmers indicated that they go for purchase of fuel wood for tobacco barns, rather than collecting from forests, Neem, Eucalypt, Acacia and Mango are the preferred furl wood species. In the absence or shortage of fuel wood, coffee stumps and coconut fronds are used for tobacco barns.