Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/724263
tobaccoasia 63 images courtesy of Alliance One International The enjoyment of tobacco has traditionally always enriched people's senses all over the world. The harmonious interplay of sensory created by Hertz & Selck. Progress and tradition going hand in hand. www.hertz-selck.de Hertz & Selck GmbH & Co. | P.O. Box 20 16 64 | 20206 Hamburg-Germany Tel. +49 [0]40-43 25 76-0 | Fax +49 [0]40-43 25 76-50 | info@hertz-selck.de taste the art of taste the art of experience experience H&S_1607_Anz-04_115x254_Experience_RZ.indd 1 07.07.16 12:23 gan, sun-cured Krosok, and sun-cured Ja- tim. "The quality of tobacco leaf is highly subjective but, generally, high-quality leaf would have a good aroma, balanced chemistry content of sugar and nicotine, as well as an open-grained leaf structure." He added that the majority of native va- rieties is used in kretek (clove) cigarettes, which are not produced anywhere else in the world. In the end, he said, "Indone- sian leaf is simply too diverse to sum up in a single quality index for all types." For growers to produce high-quality leaf, they must implement GAP that are environmentally, socially, and economi- cally sustainable, i.e. they must encompass principles related to labor, variety manage- ment and integrity, crop management, in- tegrated pest management, environmental impact and product integrity. "Through the integrated production system (IPS), our well-trained leaf technicians can pro- vide the agronomic advice needed so that growers can properly implement [GAP]. It is only through IPS that growers consis- tently receive the guidance that is needed", Costa elaborated. He added that in a viable IPS model, farmers directly contract with companies and receive agronomic support through- out the entire leaf cycle, while the tobacco company's leaf technicians train and mon- itor farm and crop development to ensure sustainable tobacco production. "The support we provide includes offering technical assistance during individual farm visits and the introduction of initiatives to reduce labor needs, quality enhancement and yield improvement. We are also pro- viding agronomy material and tools", ex- plained Costa. Furthermore, PT. AOI has partnered with BALITAS, an Indonesian governmental research department, to implement tobacco seed trials. "Our objective is to identify and re- lease new, more sustainable tobacco va- Pt. AOI conducts group training with farmers