Tobacco farmers reap big from new collection system
Nov 02, 2005
Tobacco farmers in Arua, Koboko and Yumbe have embraced agricultural technology three months after British American Tobacco (BATU) adopted the Central Purchasing Points (CPP) for rural farmers.
By James Odomel
in Arua
Tobacco farmers in Arua, Koboko and Yumbe have embraced agricultural technology three months after British American Tobacco (BATU) adopted the Central Purchasing Points (CPP) for rural farmers.
The computerised registry and automatic payment system is increasing farmers’ incomes and efficiency, and assuring global importers of quality products.
With the old buying system, BATU used to collect tobacco from 152 markets in West Nile, Middle North (Lango sub-region), Bunyoro, Mubende, and Rukungiri.
This led to many inefficiencies like depreciation of quality because of the logistics involved and many levels of handling the crop.
This year, BATU launched the CPP, creating only three regional buying points out of the original 152.
“I wish every cash crop is handled in this form (CPP). Farmers would be one of the richest workers in this country. It’s a win-win system because BATU reduces losses in form of foreign matter and loss of moisture while the farmer enjoys the high payment for the quality tobacco,†Solomon Ortevu, a tobacco farmer who has worked for over 18 years in Arua, said.
BATU’s leaf operations manager for the north Francis Bhatia said the company’s leaf business had been chosen as one of the five Global Strategic Sources of Tobacco for the BAT Group this year.
“As a strategic source of tobacco for the group, we had to undertake a huge transformation in order to meet the export standards of the group,†he said.
Bhatia said the CPPs would ensure that the tobacco bought from farmers was of high quality, packed in uniform bales for more efficient transportation to export destinations, and would be handled in a transparent manner to eliminate foreign matter.
“Last year we lost millions of dollars because of foreign matter in the tobacco which loss affects farmers. Today, the farmers and the company are in a full partnership to produce the best quality crop so that they get paid more for their crop. We don’t want to lose credibility on the world market because of quality issues,†he said.
After the farmer places his tobacco on the buying line, it is moved along by a conveyor belt along which stand many sorters who sift through the bundles and remove the foreign materials.
“Because of that, the farmers take extra care while checking the tobacco before they load it onto the trucks to bring it here,†Bhatia said.
in Arua
Tobacco farmers in Arua, Koboko and Yumbe have embraced agricultural technology three months after British American Tobacco (BATU) adopted the Central Purchasing Points (CPP) for rural farmers.
The computerised registry and automatic payment system is increasing farmers’ incomes and efficiency, and assuring global importers of quality products.
With the old buying system, BATU used to collect tobacco from 152 markets in West Nile, Middle North (Lango sub-region), Bunyoro, Mubende, and Rukungiri.
This led to many inefficiencies like depreciation of quality because of the logistics involved and many levels of handling the crop.
This year, BATU launched the CPP, creating only three regional buying points out of the original 152.
“I wish every cash crop is handled in this form (CPP). Farmers would be one of the richest workers in this country. It’s a win-win system because BATU reduces losses in form of foreign matter and loss of moisture while the farmer enjoys the high payment for the quality tobacco,†Solomon Ortevu, a tobacco farmer who has worked for over 18 years in Arua, said.
BATU’s leaf operations manager for the north Francis Bhatia said the company’s leaf business had been chosen as one of the five Global Strategic Sources of Tobacco for the BAT Group this year.
“As a strategic source of tobacco for the group, we had to undertake a huge transformation in order to meet the export standards of the group,†he said.
Bhatia said the CPPs would ensure that the tobacco bought from farmers was of high quality, packed in uniform bales for more efficient transportation to export destinations, and would be handled in a transparent manner to eliminate foreign matter.
“Last year we lost millions of dollars because of foreign matter in the tobacco which loss affects farmers. Today, the farmers and the company are in a full partnership to produce the best quality crop so that they get paid more for their crop. We don’t want to lose credibility on the world market because of quality issues,†he said.
After the farmer places his tobacco on the buying line, it is moved along by a conveyor belt along which stand many sorters who sift through the bundles and remove the foreign materials.
“Because of that, the farmers take extra care while checking the tobacco before they load it onto the trucks to bring it here,†Bhatia said.