The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) - the regulator of China's tobacco industry - held in Beijing on June 20-21 a national conference on the establishment of specialized cooperatives of tobacco growers nationwide, pointing out the great significance of developing cooperatives of tobacco growers, and specifying key points observable in the establishment of cooperatives of tobacco growers.
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Director-General Jiang Chengkang and Deputy Director-General He Zehua of the STMA attended the meeting and respectively delivered speeches. Also present at the meeting was STMA Chief Accountant Zhang Yuxia.
In his address delivered at the meeting, Jiang Chengkang said that to accelerate the development of specialized cooperatives of tobacco growers is an inevitable requirement of the development of a modern tobacco agriculture in China, is an imperative need for maintaining stable development of leaf tobacco production, and is also an effective measure for strengthening the management and protection of infrastructure facilities for tobacco production in the country.
On how to promote development of specialized cooperatives of tobacco growers in China, Jiang Chengkang emphasized the following points:
Firstly, it is imperative to sufficiently understand that the development of specialized cooperatives of tobacco growers will contribute to supporting the development of the leaf tobacco producing sector of the tobacco industry, improving the basis of infrastructure for leaf tobacco production, providing support for the tobacco industry and creating other favorable conditions.
Secondly, it is essential to adhere to the development policy of "farmers responsible for tobacco growing and cooperatives responsible for service provision", adhere to the model of promoting the development of comprehensive service-oriented specialized cooperatives of tobacco growers, and strive to realize the system of "comprehensive coverage, whole-process service and benefiting all".
Thirdly, it is essential to adhere to the premise of "giving priority to the business of tobacco production and comprehensive utilization", give fully play to the role of infrastructure facilities to provide service for tobacco growers, and make a full use of infrastructure facilities for developing diversified operation.
And fourthly, it is essential to comprehensively sum up the successful approaches and experience in the establishment of specialized cooperatives of tobacco growers, particularly experience in the establishment of complete regulations and rules, a complete governance structure, elite management teams, support service systems and strict internal management systems, and in promoting favorable economic efficiency.
Jiang Chengkang emphasized that the following key points shall be well observed in the establishment of specialized cooperatives of tobacco growers:
Firstly, it is essential to correctly understand the basic characteristics of leaf tobacco production. Particularly, it is essential to deepen understanding of the issue that there is relatively low accumulation in agricultural production. In the establishment of specialized cooperatives of tobacco growers, it is essential to strengthen management, attach importance to efficiency, and raise efficiency.
Secondly, it is essential to accurately grasp the relationship between tobacco manufacturing enterprises and specialized cooperatives of tobacco growers, strengthen guidance, support and service provision by tobacco manufacturing enterprises of specialized cooperatives of tobacco growers, and genuinely realize the policy of enabling tobacco growers to conduct independent management of production and enjoy decision making on their own business.
Thirdly, it is essential to tightly focus on the core issue of how to benefit tobacco growers, offer tangible interests to tobacco growers, and provide better services for them.
Fourthly, it is essential to comprehensively implement the policy of supporting the development of specialized cooperatives of tobacco growers, and sufficiently understand that investment in the development of infrastructure facilities for tobacco production will mean the greatest policy support for the development of tobacco production.
And fifthly, it is essential to practically strengthen organization and leadership of specialized cooperatives of tobacco growers.
At the meeting, the participants conducted in-depth discussion and exchange of opinions on how to accelerate the development of specialized cooperatives of tobacco growers. The representatives from provincial-level tobacco companies of Yunnan, Guizhou and Hunan Provinces and prefecture level tobacco companies of Enshi Prefecture in Hubei Province and Weifang City in Shandong Province gave typical speeches, while leaders from specialized cooperatives of tobacco growers from Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Hunan and Fujian Provinces made typical exchange of experience.
The participants in the meeting mainly included leaders of the STMA, China National Tobacco Corporation and the relevant departments and units under the STMA, the directors of provincial-level tobacco companies each with an annual leaf tobacco purchase volume of 1 million dan (50,000 tons) or higher, the deputy chiefs of the tobacco companies in all tobacco-producing regions in charge of leaf tobacco work, and also leaders from leaf tobacco production and trading departments. Enditem
