Croatia Crop Report

Source from:  tr.itsmyiq.com Nov 9, 2007 11/13/2007

Croatia produced about 4,600 ha of flue-cured tobacco and about 350 ha of burley tobacco in 2007. The production region is similar to that in northern Italy. A typical Croatian flue-cured tobacco farmer grows about five ha per year, and a typical burley producer grows about 0.5 ha annually. The tobacco production is organized within two cooperatives. Hrvatski Duhani in Virovitica accounts for about 85 percent, with Duhan in Slatina processing the balance. Both cooperative centers have their own processing plants. Over the past several years, the average flue-cured tobacco yield has varied between 2.3 and 2.5 tons per ha, and the burley tobacco yield between 2.6 and 2.9 tons per ha. In 2007, the average flue-cured tobacco yield is estimated to be about 2.3 tons per ha, and the burley tobacco yield about 2.8 tons per ha-about 125,000 tons total. According to insurance data, about 10 percent of the current crop was lost due to hail during the growing season. Croatian flue-cured tobacco is primarily grown on sandy loam soils, whereas burley is grown on silty loam. The flue-cured and burley tobacco varieties used in production are domestic selections developed from the USA germplasm. All the varieties are resistant to PVY, which is the main disease in Croatia. Seed producers carefully eliminate any nornicotin mutations. The recommended planting spacing is 100 x 45-50 cm for both flue-cured and burley tobacco. Producers also work to ensure good agricultural practices. All the seedlings are grown hydroponicly. Topping is done by hand and sucker control chemically. Ripe leaves are harvested by hand. Flue-cured tobacco leaves is cured in bulk barns using natural gas (without direct firing) and the burley tobacco leaves in special structures covered with black plastic. After curing, farmers clean the cured leaves from dust and other foreign matter. Farmers bring their cured tobacco to cooperative centers where they are paid according to weight and quality in accordance with the U.S. grading approach. The tobacco is then processed and packed in 200 kg card boxes. The domestic tobacco industry has traditionally purchased 60 percent of flue-cured processed tobacco and all Croatian burley tobacco. The rest of the flue-cured tobacco is sold on the international market, mostly to customers in Europe, the United States, Asia and South America. Enditem