Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/724263
60 tobaccoasia / Issue 4, 2016 September / October images courtesy of PT. Mayangsari, a member of Hail & Cotton International Group images courtesy of PT. Far East Leaf Indonesia and field technicians on site, HCIG additionally dispatches a sustainable tobacco production (STP) team to assist contracted farmers in irrigation methods and best timing of irrigation. In collaboration with its worldwide customers, the company has furthermore also developed a CPA application schedule that takes advantage of the most adequate and approved CPA's available for use on tobacco and which at the same time reduce the risk of too high levels in the finished product, according to Kristanto. The introduction of new varietals also is on the agenda, although Kristanto said that "our main focus is currently on improving the existing varieties and increasing farmers' margins through this." Proactively involved in spreading new field technology and improving farmers' work environ- ment, CHIG also finances cultivation machinery and curing barns where necessary. The company furthermore supplies cotton rope for stringing to reduce the risk of NTRM contamination. Yet another focus is farmer education achieved through training programs, seminars and group discussions. "Training sessions are based on ex- isting programs such as GAP and we adapt them to suit our local situation", elaborated Kristanto. Labor standards likewise are an important area. Hartmans: "As an active member of the ECLT and ILO we are determined to eradicate child la- bor. We have a team that regularly checks on all our contract farmers to make sure they do not employ any children during the tobacco season or off-season. At the same time we check for other non-conformities such as forced labor, wages and work times, safe working environment, law com- pliance, and so on. All these items are also stipu- lated in the contracts we have with our farmers." PT. Far East Leaf Indonesia A fully-owned subsidiary of globally active Star Tobacco International, PT. Far East Leaf Indo- nesia (FELI) signs responsible for sourcing Indo- nesian cigar tobaccos for Star Tobacco clients in Europe and the United States. In terms of locally grown tobacco types, FELI primarily deals in FCV Lombok, DFC Boyolali, Besuki NO, Jatim VO, and Madura VO. "Indonesia's tobacco growers have today al- ready largely adopted GAP, which minimizes the use of chemical pesticides, avoids child labor, and increases the yield per hectare", said FELI's gen- eral manager, Henri Kusuma. On a quality scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means "very low quality" and 5 means "world class quality", Kusuma bestowed Indonesian leaf overall the highest score. This, he said, was synonymous with a remarkable quality improvement over the years, as his score just five years ago would have been a "4", while a decade ago, he would've given Indonesian tobaccos a rat- ing of merely "2". To achieve this, local farmers had to pay high attention from seed, planting and curing all the way to after-curing management. Like many other merchants, FELI and mother company Star Tobacco are helping out with the transfer of the latest technology and knowledge. To increase per-hectare yields, FELI provides growers with the best seeds available, although Kusuma admitted that his company has not yet conducted any research on the introduction of new varietals. But it does lend expertise to im- prove labor standards among its suppliers, has in- troduced a low cost GLT line (Kusuma: "We call it a 'mini PMD line'.") that wholesalers can use, and through its corporate social responsibility program it supports the education of farmer children. To ensure proper plantation management, FELI fre- quently dispatches agronomists to conduct farm visits. While all of these measures are ultimately aimed at giving farmers bigger insight and better know-how to become successful, Kusuma insisted Stringing of Besuki NO at PT. Mayangsari Office building of PT. Mayangsari Inspection of ready-to- sell leaf tobacco