Temanggung's potent tobacco history

R. Kristiawan, Contributor, Temanggung, Central Java

A small town in Central Java called Temanggung is far more famous than Jakarta, and at least as popular as Bali, for many of the people of Bremen, Germany.

Why should a little town located between Mt. Sumbing and Mt. Sindoro can be so popular? According to one Bremen resident, Bremen used to be a thriving center for the tobacco trade in Europe and Temanggung was distinguished for its high quality tobacco.

Temanggung is indeed synonymous with tobacco to many connoisseurs. In the small town, people have been growing the plant for centuries. And it grows very well indeed, thanks to a perfect balance of climate and fertile soil.

The region's high quality tobacco contains some 3 to 8 percent nicotine, the kind of tobacco loved by hedonistic smokers.

One of Temanggung's unique types of tobacco is the one locally called srinthil, a genetically altered strain which is extremely rich in nicotine. Its scent alone is preferred by growers and consumers.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) was introduced for the first time in Temanggung in 1630 by Dutch colonial farmers together with other potential plants such as Robusta coffee.

In a very short time, the Dutch found that tobacco grew exceptionally well in the fertile soil of the region.

Demand for Temanggung tobacco has remained high for the last several hundred years. Kretek or clove cigarette companies depend on 14 to 26 percent of the total production of Temanggung tobacco yearly.

The tobacco industry in the region contributes some Rp 7.5 trillion in taxes to the local government.

This is one of the reasons why tobacco has become the region's main source of income as well as for the 66,072 people involved in the business.

Covering an area of some 11,000 hectares, tobacco plantations in Temanggung yields some Rp 10 million per year, per hectare.

With good conditions, the average revenue that Temanggung can expect from the plantation can be as much as Rp 20 million per hectare per year -- less the amount the local government is entitled to in taxes, which is on average about Rp 2.6 million per year. In 1997, the taxes and fees reached a peak of Rp 4 million per hectare.

Tobacco also contributes a great deal to the Gross Regional Domestic Income (PDRB). During the period from 1993 to 1998 local administrators recorded an average contribution of 12.47 percent.

The statistics show that tobacco is a very important, but high risk business in Temanggung.

Growing tobacco is not easy. If the farmers make a mistake in predicting the climate, for instance, millions of rupiah can vanish from their hands.

"If rain falls during the dry season, the plant will decay quickly," said Untung Prabowo of the local plantation bureau.

Tobacco prices, too, fluctuate dramatically. Last year, for instance, the price for Temanggung tobacco was Rp 20,887 per kilogram. In 1997, it was only Rp 4,456 per kilogram.