TDR

Along with the tobacco producers from its tobacco-growing area, the TDR company Hrvatski duhani has gathered numerous local and international business partners, scientists and practitioners in the field of tobacco agriculture as well as representatives of local and regional government to celebrate Tobacco Fields Day.

The results of the ongoing tobacco harvest were highlighted at the traditional Tobacco Fields Day celebration. Half of the anticipated yield from the tobacco-growing area of Hrvatski duhani in the regions of Podravina and Slavonija, covering 4,300 hectares (1 hectare = 2.47 acres), has thus far been harvested and amounts to 10,000 tons valued at around 155 million HRK, 20 million HRK higher than the value of the comparable crop yield last year. During the remaining tobacco harvest, to be completed by the beginning of October, the expected average yield of Virginia bright tobacco is 2,283 kilograms per hectare, expected average yield of burley is 3,000 kilograms per hectare, and this year’s average farm gate price will be around 15 HRK per kilogram of tobacco, the highest farm gate price thus far in the primary tobacco production. This is the result of an increase in average government premiums for tobacco production from 5 HRK to 6 HRK per one kilogram of tobacco, as well as Hrvatski duhani introducing an average subsidy of 50 lipas per kilogram of tobacco in order to stimulate the quality and proper handling of crops.

“Tobacco produced in Croatia is in demand for its high quality as far away as the Americas and Indonesia, proving that Croatian tobacco production can meet the demands of the global market. In order to increase profitability, improve product quality and compete globally, Hrvatski duhani will this year invest around 20 million HRK in a 30-percent increase in tobacco-processing capacity, which is the largest investment in the Virovitica-Podravina county, and one of the largest investments in Croatian agricultural production. At the same time, it is the only investment in tobacco-processing capacity in this part of Europe, and together with our commitment to strictest standards of quality in production positions Hrvatski duhani in the near future as the center of the market for tobacco processing and global placement”, said Mr. Mirko Boić, president of the management board of Hrvatski duhani. Mr. Boić credited this success to the excellent cooperation between tobacco producers, agricultural science and profession and the domestic tobacco industry.

Thanks to modern technology used in the primary production of tobacco, Croatian tobacco farmers are not experiencing negative consequences of this year’s draught on the yield or quality of crops, as concluded during site visits to tobacco fields in Podravina and Slavonija and visits to experimental stations for new domestic varieties, some of which will be used by tobacco growers in commercial production as early as next year.