Archives of Current Research International

Tobacco remains an important commercial crop in Bihar and supports the livelihoods of many smallholder farmers, although producers face increasing production constraints and regulatory pressures. This study assessed the major constraints affecting tobacco production and the factors influencing farmers’ continued cultivation of tobacco in Samastipur district, Bihar. Primary data were collected from 100 tobacco growers selected through a multistage sampling procedure during the 2018–19 agricultural year. Garrett’s ranking technique was used to prioritise the identified production constraints and the factors encouraging continuity of tobacco cultivation. The findings showed that pest and disease incidence was the most important production constraint, with a Garrett score of 77.92, followed by limited access to capital (71.33) and shortage of skilled labour (67.55). In contrast, higher productivity was the leading factor supporting continued tobacco cultivation, with a Garrett score of 80.05, followed by the availability of a secured market (65.53) and farmers’ traditional knowledge and experience in tobacco cultivation (65.46). The predominance of marginal and small farmers in the sample further indicates the importance of livelihood considerations in production decisions. The findings suggest that improving access to institutional credit, extension support, integrated pest and disease management, and technically and financially supported crop-diversification options may help address production constraints while reducing dependence on tobacco without overlooking farm-income considerations.