Tobacco farmers cry for help

Tobacco farmers cry for help

BOJONEGORO, East Java: Some 600 tobacco farmers from 15 villages in Kepuhbaru district in East Java's Bojonegoro regency demanded on Monday that local councillors bring pressure to bear on cigarette producers to buy their tobacco.

The farmers, riding on ten trucks and styling their group the Tobacco Farmers Association (PPT), complained that they could not sell their tobacco as the companies had already closed their warehouses.

"Many farmers have decided not to harvest their tobacco since one kilogram of rough tobacco leaves is only worth between Rp 200 and Rp 500. Ideally, it should be sold at Rp 800 per kilo," PPT coordinator Khoirul Anam asserted.

Councillor Afiz Koenwidoyoko said that the Council had asked the Bojonegoro mayor to urge the cigarette producers to buy tobacco from the farmers.

He said that cigarette producers like PT Gudang Garam and PT Djarum had agreed to open their warehouses again on Sept. 7 while PT Bentoel and PT HM Sampoerna had refused to accede the demand. --Antara