Govt Steps in to Ease Tobacco Curers' Plight

Source from:  dailyexpress.com.my 27 March, 2007  04/09/2007

The Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry Monday assured tobacco smallholders that it will be more involved in helping to turn around their declining production. Deputy Minister Datuk Anifah Aman said the ministry will get the National Tobacco Board (LTN) to discuss with the three major tobacco product manufacturers on improving the yields of the 3,000-odd individual curers in the country. The three are British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Bhd, JT International Bhd and Philip Morris (M) Sdn Bhd. "We want to raise their production rate to at least 1,400 kg of tobacco leaves per hectare annually from the present 1,200 kg. "With the prices stabilised at the RM13 a kg level and an estimated cost of RM7.50 a kg, they can make a gain of about RM6 a kg. If they cultivate at least three hectares each, they will rise above the poverty level," he told reporters here after discussions with representatives of individual curers throughout the country. Also present was LTN director-general Teo Hui Bek. The three tobacco product manufacturers had since 2004 taken over from LTN the supervision of tobacco smallholdings following requests by the curers for greater ease and efficiency. "We allowed the individual curers to deal directly with the manufacturers, but LTN had always kept an eye on the situation to ensure that things went well and no party was adversely affected," Anifah said. "But developments have saddened us because we are seeing the productivity of the individual curers worsening." This is why LTN will talk to the three manufacturers on improving the productivity of the individual curers and thus raise their income. Anifah expects the manufacturers to continue dealing directly with the individual curers but now LTN will have a bigger say. Enditem