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Tobacco farmers want expansion of partnership programs
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Livelihood – Workers select dried tobacco leaves. The government is deliberating its stance on the House of Representatives' controversial tobacco bill. (JP/Wahyoe Boediwardhana)
T
obacco farmers in East Java and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) have asked the government to expand the partnership scheme between farmers and industry players.
Chairman of the Kasturi Tobacco Farmers Association (APTKI) Jember, Abdurachman, said the majority of tobacco farmers were still anxious despite a good harvest, since there was uncertainty about whether their products would be absorbed by the industry or not.
He said such a scheme would benefit both parties. For farmers, it would maintain a good selling price during harvest season while for the companies, it would provide certainty over tobacco supplies.
“Farmers are often in a difficult situation when they see no one is going to buy their crops,” he told The Jakarta Post recently.
According to Abdurachman, only 20 percent of the 5,000 hectares of tobacco farm in Jember were part of partnership programs with cigarette makers.
Read also: Tungguk Tembakau a tobacco harvest ritual with prayers
Similarly, Mukmin, a Virginia tobacco farmer from North Pijot village in Keruak district in East Lombok regency, NTB, said he had enjoyed much benefit after joining a partnership program with PT Sadhana Arifnusa in 2016.
“Previously, I was often forced to sell my crops at very low prices to avoid greater loss,” he said.
Previously, Agus Wahyudi from the Directorate General of Plantation at the Agriculture Ministry claimed the government had been formulating a partnership scheme that would be able to involve more farmers.
He said that cigarette makers would be obliged to purchase local tobacco if they proposed a tobacco import permit. (bbs)
