Lombok harvests tobacco<\/p>\n
MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara (JP): West Nusa Tenggara Governor
\nWarsito launched yesterday the start of a five-month long \"grand
\ntobacco harvest\" during which an estimated total of 10,500 tons
\nof Virginia and blended tobacco leaves will be yielded.<\/p>\n
Warsito, who symbolically picked the first tobacco leaves
\nduring the ceremony, said that based on an average price level of
\nRp 3,000 (US$1.33) per kilogram last year, tobacco contributed up
\nto Rp 600 million in revenues through duty payments to the
\nprovincial administration.<\/p>\n
Tobacco farmers in Lombok are currently supervised by eight
\ncompanies, including PT BAT Indonesia, PT Djarum, PT Trisno Adi,
\nand state-owned PTP XXVII, which have responsibility to assist
\nfarmers by providing credits for their plantations, selection of
\nseeds, harvesting and guaranteeing a market for their yield.<\/p>\n
Floor prices for tobacco for each harvesting period is
\ncurrently determined through negotiations between the managing
\ncompanies and farmers, and arbitrated by the Ministry of
\nAgriculture's local plantation office.<\/p>\n
Soerono, the head of the local plantation office, said that
\nfloor prices which are recommended by a gubernatorial decree, may
\nbe reviewed if prices fluctuated on the market.<\/p>\n
Gunawan Widjaja, BAT's corporate affair director who also
\nattended yesterday's ceremony, said that BAT has always abided by
\nprice commitments \"even though prices may fall afterwards.\"<\/p>\n
H.M. Syafei, a local tobacco farmer supervised by BAT, said
\nthat he has always sold his yield to the company, in spite of
\nbetter prices offered by traders.<\/p>\n
\"Sometimes we don't get the prices we ask for because BAT
\nalready stipulated an average before the negotiation starts. But
\nat least we are always guaranteed a certain amount of profit
\n(from the committed price),\" he said.<\/p>\n
Warsito yesterday also opened BAT's new storage and packaging
\nfacilities where oven-dried tobacco leaves are packed and sent to
\nthe company's filter cigarette factories in Cirebon, West Java.<\/p>\n
The company produces cigarettes with brand names such as Lucky
\nStrike, Ardath and 555. (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lombok-harvests-tobacco-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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