The 2011 National Conference on Tobacco Leaf Purchasing & Development of Modern Tobacco Agriculture was convened in Chenzhou City on June 22. He Zehua, deputy chief of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, presided over the conference. Yu Laishan and Yuan Jianyao, executive vice governor and assistant governor of Hunan Province respectively, attended the meeting. Zhao Zhenshan, general manager of China National Tobacco Corporation, made a work report and Xiang Lili, mayor of Chenzhou, delivered a speech at the meeting.

Vice Governor Yu stressed that the meeting is a spur to Hunan's work on tobacco. The related departments at all levels across the province should accelerate the construction of tobacco production facilities, promote economic and social development of tobacco production areas, and speed up poverty alleviation and fortune making for tobacco growers.

Taking the conference as a rare opportunity, cadres and workers of tobacco industry should intensify efforts to realize the sustainable development of Hunan's tobacco industry, Yu added.

In his speech, Mayor Xiang stated that Chenzhou boasts a history of more than 400 years in tobacco production. It is one of the six appropriate areas for tobacco production in China, an "important flue-cured tobacco leaf production base" and the largest tobacco production area in Hunan Province. The planting area of tobacco in Chenzhou is always stabilized at about 300,000 mu (200 million square meters) and that of this year reaches 350,000 mu (about 233 million square meters). Over 500 mu (about 333 thousand square meters) concentrated planting area accounts for 76% of the total area. In 2011, the output is expected to hit 50 million kilograms, achieving a total value of 1 billion yuan and a tax of 200 million yuan.

Since 2005, Chenzhou has input 1.1 billion yuan into construction of tobacco production facilities. The effective irrigation area of tobacco comes to 500,000 mu (about 333 million square meters), and the stable yielding area despite drought or waterlogging 431,200 mu (287million square meters).

Translator: Zhou Jingqi