Tobacco farmers would like to emphasize their commitment to adhering to the application of good agricultural practices in an effort to produce an agriculture commodity that meets the legal market standards for the over 900 million consumers spread across the world, and ensuring the agricultural activity provides a proper livelihood for the millions of the world's farmers, farm workers and their families.
During the conference, delegates from countries such as Azerbaijan, India, Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as representatives of other stakeholders, government officials and delegates from the United Nations, discussed several important issues related to tobacco agriculture and the industry.
ITGA Chief Executive Officer António Abrunhosa said, the tobacco market has changed its direction. Therefore, this transition into the future must become the industry's main agenda.
“It will be difficult to implement this strategy if we refuse to become part of the programs initiated by UN agencies such as UNDP and FAO. Therefore, ITGA and its members are committed to demonstrating our commitment to becoming involved in these initiatives and we will do whatever we can to produce tangible evidence of our intentions."
On the opening speech, the chairman of Indonesian Tobacco Community Alliance (AMTI), Budidoyo, said that tobacco farmers have implemented agricultural practices in line with a number of objectives specified in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
"For example, the number one objective of the SDG is Eradicating poverty. It has been proven everywhere that tobacco is a very profitable commodity that supports the economic stability of the farmers and their families," conveyed Budidoyo. "The tobacco sector is also aware of the importance of fulfilling our social-economic responsibilities. Therefore, we take various measures every year to improve our agricultural techniques so they become more sustainable and environment-friendly.”
In addition to making declarations, the Indonesian tobacco farmers also continue to push the Draft Tobacco Bill forward because it is the realization of efforts to protect tobacco farmers. The Draft Tobacco Bill regulates the management of tobacco, partnership programs between business owners and farmers, DBHCHT allocation, and health protection (management of advertisements, promotions, sponsorship, cigarette packs and Smoke-Free Areas (KTR).
Farmers must also remain alert to Draft Tobacco Bill rules that could potentially threaten the Tobacco Product Industry (IHT), such as:
- Restrictions on tobacco usage (80% domestic and 20% imported tobacco), the implementation of quotas
- Implementation of an import excise tariff for imported tobacco of 60-200 percent (on processed tobacco)
- Restriction of foreign investment ownership (30 percent)
The tobacco sector has been the target of much pressure that results in decreasing tobacco product demand and exacerbates the situation of the tobacco farmers.
These challenges have never successfully discouraged us from cultivating tobacco, but instead provided us with greater motivation to achieve better and more sustainable tobacco production.
ABOUT THE AMTI
The Indonesian Tobacco Community Alliance (AMTI) formed on 25 January, 2010 by a joint declaration by tobacco industry stakeholders as a way to organize the efforts of tobacco and clove farmers and cigarette workers, consumers, retailers, associations and manufacturers to preserve Indonesia's quality tobacco industry.
The purpose of this alliance is to provide a forum to organize the efforts of tobacco and clove farmers and cigarette workers, consumers, retailers, associations and manufacturers. In addition to establishing a united front for preserving the Indonesian tobacco industry's quality and principles for the nation, considering the Tobacco Industry as one of the prioritized national industries which is comparable to other industries, participating in formulating balanced and comprehensive concepts of tobacco regulations acceptable to legislators, and preserving the existence of the cigarette industry, especially kretek cigarettes as a national cultural heritage product, so that this industry may receive its full rights in its own country and become a global commodity.
The AMTI also wants to maintain and develop the local tobacco industry and seeks to develop Virginia, Oriental and White Burley tobacco as raw materials for the cigarette industry and import substitutes, and strives to uphold transparency in accordance with the applicable legislation.
ABOUT THE ITGA
The International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA) is a non-profit organization representing the interests of millions of tobacco farmers around the world. The ITGA encourages the involvement of tobacco farmers in global discussions and supports farmers to have a strong voice on the international scene to protect their continued existence and their families.
Reporter: PR Wire
Editor: PR Wire
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
