Malong City Tobacco Subcompany Promotes Mechanized Farming in Tobacco Production

Source from:  Qujing Tobacco Monopoly Administration 05/07/2012

Malong City Tobacco Subcompany in Qujing City of southwest China's tobacco-producing Yunnan Province, which doubles as Malong City Tobacco Monopoly Administration, is adopting a series of new measures and approaches to promote mechanized farming in tobacco production, in efforts to reduce costs and increase efficiency. In 2012, Malong City Tobacco Subcompany is planning to make mechanized transplantation of tobacco seedlings to the tune of 20,000 mu (1,333 hectares), mechanized mulching of sowing to the tune of 20,000 mu (1,333 hectares), mechanized intertillage and ridging to the tune of 10,000 mu (666.7 hectares), and mechanized pulling of stems to the tune of 10,000 mu (666.7 hectares), in promoting mechanized farming in tobacco production. Firstly, the tobacco subcompany strengthens efforts to make publicity and arrangements as early as possible. Specifically, it issues notices to tobacco growers and makes a use of television, radio broadcast and other news media to make publicity; assigns farm machinery cooperatives to provide service of mechanized farming; adopts relevant policies on mechanized transplantation, mulching, intertillage, ridging and stem pulling; and gives priority to planning mechanized farming in tobacco production in large contiguous plots suitable for mechanized farming. Secondly, the tobacco subcompany strengthens efforts to offer training and enable tobacco growers to master the necessary skills. Specifically, the basic operation office of the tobacco subcompany takes charge of guaranteeing the purchase of farm machinery for tobacco production, and hires technicians to train tobacco growers on techniques of using farm machinery, in order that all trainees will become skilled in operating farm machinery. Thirdly, the tobacco subcompany strengthens planning for mechanized farming in large contiguous plots, in order that they can play a demonstrative role. In particular, it selectively designates large contiguous plots as key demonstrative areas for mechanized farming and enables them to play a leading role in this endeavor. Fourthly, the tobacco subcompany strengthens efforts for technological promotion and implementation. Specifically, the production section of the tobacco subcompany designates technicians to study operating processes at on-site whole-process mechanized farming fairs and go to various leaf tobacco stations to offer technical guidance to tobacco growers. And fifthly, the tobacco subcompany formulates programs for strictly grading performance in mechanized farming in tobacco production. Besides, the tobacco subcompany has formulated the Program of Action for Whole-Process Mechanized Farming in Tobacco Production in 2012, to make provisions for strictly grading performance against failure in implementing measures of mechanized transplantation and mulching of sowing, failure to observe the relevant technical standards in applying farmyard manure and fertilizers exclusively for tobacco growing, failure to use strong seedlings with high stems developed in flotation in mechanized transplantation, which leads to a survival rate of tobacco seedlings lower than 95 percent, and failure in field management that causes unbalanced growth of tobacco crops. According to this program, leaf tobacco stations in areas where the effects of mechanized farming in tobacco production are not recognized by tobacco growers and that are not playing a demonstrative role will be disqualified as model stations. Enditem