Tobacco Facts.

As Turkish tobacco cultivators are threatened with a World Health Organization initiative to stop production of blended tobacco cigarettes, farmers in the eastern province of Muş are hoping more American companies will buy their harvests.

Sibel Devrim, an authority from the East Anatolia Development Agency, or DAKA’s, Muş branch, said some 30 percent of the village made its living off tobacco farming, adding that the quota practice which was abolished after the privatization Turkey’s former alcohol and tobacco monopoly caused the harvests to remain unsold.

“After privatization, not only was the quota abolished, but also the private companies started to purchase harvests from farmers with cash. Now there are three private companies buying from our farmers and two of them are American. We hope more private companies will come to our city to buy tobacco.”

On the other hand, the chairman of a local tobacco cultivators’ federation, Şehmus Solgun, said these companies adopted a contract-based purchase method, which only allowed the farmers on contract with these companies to be able to sell their yield, thus badly affecting employment. “But we have no other choice,” he said.

Solgun complained that tobacco producers were left alone for too long, and “although Muş was capable of cultivating high quality tobacco equal to a second-quality Virginia tobacco, we are importing 80,000 tons of tobacco every year.”

He said that following privatization, although the Tobacco High Council could supervise tobacco purchasing companies it could not regulate prices. “It is true that we cannot get the price we want. Ideally, tobacco should be 10 lira per kilo. But we sell it at 3 or 5 liras per kilo and America turns it into Marlboro and sells it back to us at 350 liras per kilo.”

Solgun also said cultivators were not supported properly and although they had no alternative to tobacco cultivation, it was impeded by the state.

“In Muş, the land is under snow for six months. And when there is no more tobacco cultivation the already high unemployment rate will rocket.”

Solgun said the 78 percent tax on the good prevented tobacco cultivation, adding they could not sell their harvest under the current circumstances.

According to a recent press release by the Aegean Tobacco Exporters’ Union, the WHO is taking action against the use of blended tobacco in cigarettes because of the additives in these products, in line with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Within the frame work of the provisioned regulation, oriental tobacco blends may be totally banned as the organization aims to stop “input material” in cigarette production.

If the regulation is approved in November, Turkish tobacco exporters will be facing a serious threat. Turkey is the chief cultivator and exporter of the type of tobacco known as oriental tobacco, according to the statement.
By NURDAN BOZKURT
Hurriyetdailynews

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