Tobacco Production Shrinking

Source from:  bernama.com KANGAR, Sept 25 (Bernama) 09/26/2007

Declining demand from the manufacturing sector and the government's campaign to get smokers to give up the habit have been cited as the reasons for the shrinking production of tobacco in the country. National Tobacco Board (LTN) Deputy Director-General (Development) Baruddin Ismail said Tuesday LTN had reduced the annual production quota for tobacco leaves to nine million kilogrammes this year from the 15 million kg previously. The number of active tobacco growers had dropped to 4,000 compared to about 12,000 several years ago and the number of curers had come down to 106 from 360, he told reporters. Baruddin said LTN would ensure that the existing tobacco growers and curers derived profit from their venture but noted that their business depended on the demand from manufacturers. As such, he said, less active tobacco growers would be encouraged to shift to alternative crops under a restructuring in the tobacco industry. Baruddin spoke to reporters after the presentation of assistance under the Tobacco Growers Transitional Aid (BPPT) programme for Perlis, here. He said the manufacturing sector had also reduced cigarette production to 16 billion sticks annually from about 21 billion several years ago. On the BPPT, he said LTN had allocated RM86.6 million for distribution to tobacco growers under the programme. Meanwhile, 1,073 tobacco growers in Perlis received aid totalling RM2.6 million under the programme from Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, here. Enditem