ITGA AGM Host & Venue

TGANC

Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina

read more

Residence Inn By Marriott

Website

read more

Courtyard By Marriott

Website

read more

Fairfield By Marriott

Website

read more
18:30 to 22:00 EDT

Registration

Residence Inn by Marriott - Raleigh, North Carolina - Cardinal Room

Registration Available from 6.30PM to 10PM 

16:00 EDT

Finance Committee (Closed Session)

Residence Inn by Marriott - Raleigh, North Carolina - Cardinal Room

18:30 to 22:00 EDT

Welcome Cocktail

Residence Inn by Marriott - Raleigh, North Carolina - Lounge Area

07:00 EDT

Issues Day (Public Session)

08:00   Board Bus for Universal Leaf Factory, Nashcille, NC

09:00   Arrive Universal Leaf - Observe Receiving of Tobacco 

09:30   Tour Processing Factory 

10:30   Depart for Wilson, NC

11:15   Visit Live Auction

11:45   Depart for Wilson Country Agricultural Extension Center 

12:00   LUNCH 

13:00   ITGA Issues Day - Public Session - Cardinal Room

17:30   Ad journ General Session and Depart for Dinner 

17:45   Parkers BBQ Restaurant 

19:00   Depart for Raleigh

19:45   Arrive Hotel Facilities 

08:15 EDT

ITGA Annual General Assembly - Closed Session

Residence Inn by Marriott - Raleigh, North Carolina - Capital Room 

 

Only ITGA Member Associations

13:00 EDT

Lunch to All Participants

Residence Inn by Marriott - Raleigh, North Carolina - Capital Room 

NC Research Farm

All Participants

13:30   Board Bus for Tour of NC Research Farm, Oxford, NC

14:30   Arrive Research Farm 

              Welcome and Overview, Dr. Loren Fisher, NC State Director of Tobacco 

              Field Tours and Dicussions 

17:00   Depart for Raleigh

18:00 Arrive at Hotel Facilities 

NC Agriculural State Fair

09:00   Board Bur for NC Agricultural State Fair

09:30   Various shceduled events throughout the day 

 

Speakers & Participants

José Javier Aranda

ITGA President

read more

ITGA

International Tobacco Growers Association

read more

Graham Boyd

TGANC Executive Vice President

read more

TGANC

Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina

read more

TAZ

Tobacco Association of Zambia

read more

Zvhikonyo Mahombe

TAZ President

read more

Mercedes Vázquez

ITGA Chief Executive Officer

read more

Shane MacGuill

Euromonitor Global Lead Nicotine & Cannabis

read more

Euromonitor

Euromonitr International

read more

Marcílio Drescher

Afubra President

read more

Afubra

Afubra

read more

Ivan Genov

ITGA Manager Tobacco Industry Analysis

read more

BSC

Burley Stabilization Corporation

read more

Daniel Green

BSC Chief Executive Officer

read more

Benedict Kisaka

TCJE General Manager

read more

TCJE

Tobacco Cooperative Joint Enterprise

read more

Nixon Lita

TAMA CEO

read more

TAMA

TAMA Farmers Trust

read more

ZTA

Zimbabwe Tobacco Association

read more

Graham Ross

ZTA President

read more

ARET

Agricultual Research And Extention Trust

read more

Dr. Albert Changaya

ARET Chief Executive Officer

read more

Jonathan Renn

TGANC Vice Presidente

read more

William Snell

Agricultural Economist, University of Kentucky

read more

Al Pedigo

Dark Tobacco Association (US)

read more

Universal Leaf

read more

Benjamin Dessart

Vice President, External Affairs at Universal Leaf

read more

Michiel Reerink

International Corporate Affairs Director & Managing Director, AOI

read more

Alliance one

read more

Srinivasa Murali

General Secretary of the Federation of all India Farmers

read more

TII

Tobacco Institute of India

read more

COPROTAB

Cooperativa de Productores Tabacaleros de Salta

read more

CT Salta

Cámara Del Tabaco De Salta

read more

CTM

Cooperatia Agroindustrial de Misiones Limitada

read more

Dominican Cigar

Cigarro Dominicano

read more

CTJ

Cooperativa de Tabacaleros de Jujuy

read more

ECLT

ECLT Foundation

read more

UNITAB

UNITAB

read more

INTABACO

INTABACO

read more

Members of the media are welcome to attend ITGA 2024 Annual General Meeting. For media accreditation and inquiries, please get in touch.

While leaf prices are often at the centre of attention for tobacco growers and, in fact, for all other key players in the supply chain, there is another major component that is driving viability – tobacco yields. In 2024, ITGA goes on a journey around the world to examine the driving forces behind tobacco yield variations. We take an in-depth look into yield related issues across the leading tobacco producing countries and understand better the differences between small scale and large scale growers’ challenges.

Our research shows the last decade of yield trends and reveals how countries are clustered – with the US, Brazil and the EU on top, while the rest are lagging behind. Nevertheless, one cannot escape the most obvious observation – that yield progression is rather flat across the board, which goes against prevailing dynamics in many other crops. Over time, corn, soybean and cotton have seen a significant growth in yields, thus contributing to improved prospects of the respective farming communities. Alternatively, while tobacco is often the most profitable crop in comparison to other viable options, its yields have largely stagnated.

The issues impacting yield dynamics for small scale farmers are numerous. For example, lack of infrastructure – drying or curing capabilities, water deficit due to inefficient supply, low availability of leaf varieties that could help better performance, land ownership and lease issues leading to inadequate land preparations. Other problems include “stretching” of inputs to cover bigger areas in an attempt to guarantee higher production volumes, that often results in yield reduction. Technological advancements are often beyond reach for small scale farmers. There is also difficulty in adopting new practices without adequate training and assistance.

Globally, the highest average yields are often achieved by commercial growers. Farmers in the US are good example of this trend. Nevertheless, changes in management practices over the last years have not helped the pursuit of higher yields. While in the past, when US tobacco was under a federal program that limited the amount growers could sell, there were much more smaller farms. Under the more intensive management, those crops were usually placed on some of the best soils. Now that we have fewer and much bigger farms, the crop does not always benefit from such pre-conditions.

Weather changes are among the most frequently cited reasons for yield related issues. US growers mention that tobacco favours dried conditions. Excessive moisture in the tobacco plant’s roots can quickly result in extensive root hair loss and dramatically reduce the chances of reaching full yield potential. In the US, more intensive storms in the last decade have played their role. As recently as early 2024, growers in Brazil suffered from unprecedented floods affecting hundreds of thousands of people, while in Zimbabwe there was a prolonged drought leading to the declaration of a state of disaster.

There is also the issue of labour shortage – in developing and developed countries alike, where workers are just not interested in agriculture and find other ways to make a living. Being a labour-intensive crop, this particular issue often directly impacts quality and expected yield levels.

University studies focused on optimal conditions, productive, well-drained, fertile and uniform soils show that maximum potential could exceed 3,500 kg per hectare. However, even these variety trials can be negatively influenced by weather and pest extremes. Notably, sometimes increasing production costs in an attempt to achieve maximum yields can be disadvantageous as stagnant prices reduce profitability. As a result, growers often alter management decisions in attempt to preserve profitability, that might in turn lead to reduced yields.

Variety availability is also an important yield determinant. In other crops, certain varieties are only available to producers for a few years, and then cycled out as new and improved versions are introduced. Tobacco varieties tend to be available and used for commercial production for many years. This could be beneficial in terms of taking advantage of producing consistent crops year after year, but their potential might be limited in the long term.

Other factors like regulation are also important. We must not forget that tobacco is among the most tightly regulated sectors with a trend that suggests higher level of restrictions in the future. Take as an example North Macedonia. Once the country enters the European Union, the current system of subsidizing farmers based on the amount of tobacco produced will have to be terminated, which will contribute to a serious decrease in attractiveness.

For growers to remain competitive, they will have to continuously adapt and increase efficiencies. Sometimes growing fewer hectares could allow for better management and better soil selection. However, it is difficult for many experienced tobacco growers to grow less in years where the market is demanding more, which is the case now. Tobacco growers must have adaptation and mitigation strategies to maintain their profitability and enhance productivity. This includes integration of irrigation systems, genetic improvement programs and other strategies. Financial assistance and trainings are also essential.

What seems to be vital in this case, as well as in many other challenges in tobacco, is cooperation. We need to engage all relevant parties and learn from each other’s experiences in order to tackle issues related to improving yields. Only then we could see them on a trajectory that is similar to other crops.

 

Click on the image above to see more! 

1. Tobacco Products Consumption Trends: 

How are traditional and new generation tobacco products performing around the world? 

3. Tobacco Productivity:

What are the Key Factors Affecting Tobacco Yields?

 

 

2. Tobacco Leaf Market in 2024:

What is the Market Dynamic in the Leading Tobacco Producing Countries?  

4. Focus on US Tobacco:

 How are Local Growers Preparing for the Future? 

ITGA 2024 AGM: A One of a Kind Experience to Understand US Tobacco Growing

Wilson North Carolina Auction Center

read more

Oxford University NC

read more

Research Farm

read more

North Carolina State Fair

read more

Gallery ITGA Meetings

ITGA Meetings: The Go To Event for the Tobacco Sector

ITGA AGM 2023

Join ITGA

;