Skip to content
Technical Kisanखेती, तकनीक के साथ
ENहिं
TobaccoRabiBidi tobacco varietyUpdated 28 August 2026

Anand 119

A widely grown bidi-tobacco variety (also known as ABD 119) of the Gujarat and Nipani tracts, giving a strong, full-bodied leaf for bidi rolling; takes heavy nitrogen.

SeasonRabi
Maturity periodAbout 120–140 days after transplanting
Expected yieldCured leaf around 1,500–2,000 kg/ha of strong, full-bodied bidi leaf
Suitable soilHeavy alluvial and medium-black bidi-tobacco soils (Charotar and Nipani)

Quick facts

Crop
Tobacco
Type
Bidi tobacco variety
Season
Rabi
Maturity period
About 120–140 days after transplanting
Seed rate
About 2.5–3 g per m² of nursery bed; ~100 m² of nursery per hectare
Expected yield
Cured leaf around 1,500–2,000 kg/ha of strong, full-bodied bidi leaf
Suitable soil
Heavy alluvial and medium-black bidi-tobacco soils (Charotar and Nipani)
Release
A bidi-tobacco variety of the Gujarat Charotar and Nipani tracts (also known as ABD 119)

About this variety

Anand 119 (also called ABD 119) is a long-grown bidi-tobacco variety of the Gujarat Charotar belt and the Nipani tract on the Karnataka–Maharashtra border. It produces a strong, full-bodied, aromatic leaf that bidi rollers value, is sun- and air-cured in the open, and — like all bidi tobacco — is grown on heavy manuring and a high nitrogen dose, the opposite of the FCV approach.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeBidi tobacco variety
    MaturityAbout 120–140 days after transplanting
    Yield potentialCured leaf around 1,500–2,000 kg/ha of strong, full-bodied bidi leaf
    Disease resistanceModerate; strict TMV sanitation needed
    SoilHeavy alluvial and medium-black bidi-tobacco soils (Charotar and Nipani)
    SeasonRabi

Sowing & cultivation

  • Sowing timeNursery August–September; transplant hardened seedlings October to November
  • Seed rateAbout 2.5–3 g per m² of nursery bed; ~100 m² of nursery per hectare
  • SpacingAbout 90 × 60 cm
  • Sowing methodTransplant hardened nursery seedlings one per hill onto ridged, well-manured land
  • IrrigationIrrigated through vegetative growth at 10–15 day intervals; eased off toward maturity so the leaf ripens
  • FertilizerHeavy farmyard/green manure plus a high nitrogen dose (often 150–250 kg N/ha) for body; follow the Anand / state bidi package
  • HarvestingCut the whole plant near the base at maturity; cure on the ground or racks in the open, then bundle for the bidi trade

Soil & climate

Soil

Suitable soil
Heavy alluvial (Charotar goradu) and medium-black (Nipani) soils
pH
7.0–8.2

Climate

Climate
A rabi crop; the open-air cure depends on a dry post-monsoon spell, so unseasonal rain at curing is the main quality risk

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

About 120–140 days after transplanting

Expected yield

Cured leaf around 1,500–2,000 kg/ha of strong, full-bodied bidi leaf

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Management notes

  • Manure and feed heavily for body; the opposite of FCV nutrition
  • Enforce TMV sanitation at nursery, transplanting, topping and cutting
  • Cure in a dry window and protect drying leaf from showers

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • Strong, full-bodied, aromatic leaf that bidi rollers pay well for
  • Well proven across both the Gujarat Charotar and the Nipani bidi tracts

Things to consider

  • A bidi type — sold to bidi manufacturers, not at Tobacco Board auctions
  • Highly TMV-sensitive; strict sanitation is non-negotiable

Suitable regions

States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.

  • Gujarat
  • Karnataka

Frequently asked questions

Is Anand 119 the same as ABD 119?

Yes — Anand 119 and ABD 119 (Anand Bidi 119) are the same bidi-tobacco variety, grown across the Gujarat Charotar belt and the Nipani tract.

Sourced from: ICAR-Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI) — Bidi Tobacco Research Station, Anand, Anand Agricultural University. editorial policy.