Tobacco Asia

52 tobaccoasia LEAF NEWS 烟叶新闻 over 67,000 hectares having been shifted to pulses and vegetables. Recent data from the agriculture ministry revealed that this shift from tobacco has happened in nine states led by Andhra Pradesh. MALAWI Growers Say JTI Buying 49,000kg Not Enough Some tobacco growers say JTI Leaf Malawi buying 49,000 kilograms of contracted leaf in early August would have no impact as their tobacco has already lost value after JTI Malawi stopped buying tobacco in July, after reportedly meeting quota with their growers. The August purchase came about after JTI committed to buy the remaining tobacco depending on the contracts they signed with the growers and after reconciling the figures of how much they bought in conjunction with Tobacco Control Commission (TCC). A JTI statement claimed that tobacco growers produced in excess of 470,000 kg of their contracted volumes. The statement went on to say, "Follow- ing disputes over the purchase of this excess tobacco, it has been agreed and confirmed by TCC that only 49,000 kg or 10% of this tobacco should be considered for purchase by JTI." "The 49,000 kg that was bought is re-handled tobacco. This means that it was presented not in compliance with industry standards and was sent back to the grower for re-handling. Any loss of quality cannot be pinned down to the buyer since the grower presented it in poor shape in the first instance." AZERBAIJAN Crops Withstand Heavy Rains Strong rains in northwest Azerbaijan have not caused any serious damage to tobacco plantations, according to the chairman of the Tobacco Producers and Exporters' Association, Telman Hasratov. "Most of the plantations, which we have already inspected, are not damaged too much. But, we have not yet visited the plantations located at higher altitude, closer to the mountains where the precipitation was stronger. The main thing is that the plantations were not completely submerged - it would be harmful for tobacco," he said. Hasratov also said that in general, tobacco production in the country should significantly increase in 2018. "Crop yield is high in 2018. Farmers are even dissatisfied with the insufficient number of reception points. So the production of dry tobacco and tobacco products should increase in 2018." Hastarov expects tobacco production in Azerbaijan may increase by 30% by late 2018. Figures from the State Statistics Committee show that in the first half of 2018, over 975 tons of tobacco were harvested from 3,400 hectares of land in Azerbaijan, which is 8.2 times more than the same period in 2017. Revenue from tobacco in the first half of 2018 reached AZN20.48 million (US$12 million) which is 3.4 times higher the same period year-on-year.

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