Estimating the annual production data of bidi sticks in India using the "back-of-the-envelop-method"

The Indian bidi industry is largely unorganised with poorly implemented regulations along with laxed taxations. The unaccounted production of bidi sticks might potentiate its illicit circulation and therefore, unchecked availability to the minors. Specific production estimates may lead to stricter compliance with the existing regulatory norms. Due to the paucity of evidence and wide variability in production numbers, this estimation of the exact number of bidi sticks produced annually within the country was conducted. The annual number of produced sticks were estimated using the available literature till May 2023, on: a) the quantity of auctioned tendu leaves, b) number of bidi rollers, and c) bidi tobacco cultivated. Around 10 % attritions were considered during each stage of the manufacturing process to arrive at the production estimates. Annual bidi stick production was estimated as a) 319.83 billion, b) 600 billion to 1 trillion, and c) 974 billion to 1.19 trillion. This research provides a crucial estimate of the alarming number of bidi sticks produced and address the significant gap in reliable data of production figures. These insights underscore the urgency for stringent policy measures and regulation of bidi industry to safeguard health and curtail illicit practices.