Following the Turkish government’s decision that all cigarettes produced and sold in Turkey must contain thirty per cent of Turkish Tobacco, Star Agritech International (SAI) has decided to enter the market for locally grown Virginia and Burley Tobaccos, according to a company press release.

Based on the current cigarette consumption, local manufacturers will require between 25,000 to 30,000 tons per year of locally produced FCV and Burley. As a result, on 4 November, SAI opened its agricultural branch office in Mus, Eastern Turkey that will function as its project centre. The office is adjacent to the Turkish Tobacco Cooperative Union on which SAI will lean heavily for tobacco production by its farmer members. SAI’s project envisages the cultivation of cured tobacco in the volume of up to 5,000 tons by 2025. In addition, it aims to establish an industrial park spanning 110,000 m2, which will encompass Green Leaf storage, Curing Barns, a Green Leaf Threshing Line (GLT), a Hand Stripping Centre, a Processed Leaf Warehouse, a CRES line, a Recon line and Administration offices. The complex is slated for phased completion in 2022 and 2023.
The project will be initially led by Project Manager, Yagiz Turk, assisted on the technical front by Group Engineering Supervisor, Furkan Aslan and on the leaf front by Group Leaf Operations Manager, Gokhan Akca. Other Istanbul functions will provide support when and if required. The project is a significant undertaking for SAI and is the company’s second direct involvement in tobacco cultivation after The Cameroon Cigar leaf plantations. It is projected to be an economic stimulus for the Mus region in terms of economic development and employment creation. Stay tuned for any further developments!