Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/550307
60 tobaccoasia CNHIC established a mechanism for an an- nual evaluation of leaf tobacco and a mechanism for preproduction negotiations on leaf tobacco, in order to produce reports on monitoring the qual- ity of leaf tobacco, and to form leaf tobacco tech- nical production schemes. The company has also established a mechanism for stationing staffers to monitor the process of leaf tobacco production and strengthen supervision over the implementa- tion of technical measures at crucial points. Hu- bei Industrial also provides technical support for the base units by means of establishing technical service platforms for these bases, and by hiring experts to work as part of the specialized service teams. In an effort to promote specialized grading of leaf tobacco that is grown by separate farm- ing households, CNHIC designates inspectors to take charge of the work of quality control over leaf tobacco purchased from these households. The company works closely with commercial en- terprises in reducing redundant procedures, which helps it to control costs and raise the efficiency of the government leaf tobacco purchase program in the province. Yunnan Provincial Tobacco Corp. Because of the mountainous terrain in most of Yunnan Province, the largest tobacco-producing region in China, most of the leaf tobacco is grown by petty farmers. This situation increases the various costs of leaf tobacco production while lowering its efficiency. To address this chal- lenge, the Yunnan Provincial Tobacco Monopoly Administration (YPTC) (a.k.a. Yunnan Provincial Tobacco Corporation) introduced a model of contiguous growing of leaf tobacco in the prov- ince. So far this year, the acreage of contiguously grown leaf tobacco in the base units operated by specialized farming cooperatives each with an area of 1,000 mu (66.7 hectares) or larger has reached 37.5% of the total tobacco acreage in Yunnan Province. Over the last few years, a number of tobacco seedlings development farms, leaf tobacco cur- ing farms, and agricultural implements have been built or acquired in Yunnan Province with subsi- dies extended by the tobacco industry. So far, the YPTC has fully transferred the rights to own and use these farms and implements to a number of specialized cooperatives of tobacco growers. It has also introduced different types of service models, including the unified operation type, the contrac- tual farming type, the cooperative service type and the basic service type, effectively satisfying the ac- tual demand of different cooperatives. Shandong Provincial Tobacco Corp. In the second half of 2012, the Shandong Pro- vincial Tobacco Monopoly Administration (a.k.a. Shandong Provincial Tobacco Corporation) in east China's Shandong Province launched a com- prehensive survey of the 36,000 mu (2,400 hect- ares) of tobacco fields in and around Zhucheng City to check the soil type, the soil quality, etc, creating files of soil fertility. At the same time, the Administration established a leaf tobacco quality database using the collected and summarized leaf tobacco quality data. In an effort to mitigate the impact of natural disasters, the Zhucheng City To- bacco Monopoly Administration (a.k.a. Zhucheng City Tobacco Subcompany) has worked with the local meteorological authorities in collecting weather data of the past 30 years and providing data support for mitigation of natural disasters. Each year, the Zhucheng City Model To- bacco Growing Area operated by the Zhucheng Administration will plow all its tobacco fields to a depth of 30 centimeters or more, which is why in spring, the ridging height also reaches about 30 centimeters. Deep plowing has contributed to a serious improvement of soil structure and ad- dressed the problem of crop rotation, crop dis- eases and pests. The local specialized cooperatives of tobacco growers regularly organize centralized transplanting of tobacco seedlings onto standard- ized farming in fields under the guidance of in- dustry professionals. By promoting the application of water-saving irrigation technologies, including drip irrigation and spray irrigation, the coopera- tives manage to ease the effects of yearly droughts they have to contend with in May and June. Prior to leaf tobacco curing, the cooperatives will clas- sify the fresh leaf tobacco into different catego- ries as part of their leaf tobacco quality assurance programs, as well as a means of accurate curing, energy conservation and cyclical use of resources in leaf tobacco curing. The drive of China's tobacco industry to mod- ernize itself over the past seven years has contrib- uted to building a solid foundation for launching the next step – lean production. As a result of the changes implemented throughout the leaf tobacco production environment both locally and abroad, and bearing in mind that traditional methodology so common in the Chinese tobacco industry has already attained the highest level of productivity that it will ever be able to reach, the tobacco in- dustry has to undergo a systemic transformation if it wishes to continue its steady pace of develop- ment. The concept of lean production has brought about a new way of thinking to the industry and a kind of blueprint for its comprehensive transfor- mation. Besides, judging by the present situation, lean production will likely be the key to solving the problems experienced by the Chinese tobacco industry in the foreseeable future.