Diversification for Tobacco Growing Regions in the Southern European Union


In the EU-15 about 69.510 tobacco holdings existed in 2000 with together 125.000 ha tobacco cultivation. 95% of these tobacco holdings are family farms. The main producers Greece, Italy and Spain represent 86% of the total EU tobacco production. The tobacco sector employs an important quantity of labour force, 212.960 persons, corresponding to 2,4 % of total persons employed in the EU agricultural sector. Family labour force is about 80 % of total labour force employed in the sector. Greece and Italy represent 81% of the total labour force employed in tobacco production. The first processing employment, where the familiy is often employed, counted in 1999 for additional 13.372 full time equivalent jobs.


The CAP reform for the tobacco sector has the aim to phase out the subside payment for tobacco cultivation. From 2006 to 2009 a decoupled payment is provided under the Single Farm Payment Scheme. This will have a great impact on the tobacco growers in terms of income and employment.


To obviate this impact the project aims to identify and characterise those sustainable alternatives which would provide employment and income for the tobacco farmers.


The main objectives of the DIVTOB bring together researchers, tobacco cooperatives and rural development agencies

-To define the needs of the tobacco farmers

-To identify and characterise sustainable alternatives for employment and income

-To develop a list of opportunities, which were most suitable for every region concerned

-To define further research needs

-To develop an exploitation plan

-To disseminate the results to the users and rural development agencies


The project will strongly support EU and member states in the implementation of action plans to diversify "difficult" tobacco growing areas.


Principal investigators
Bokelmann, Wolfgang Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. (Details) (Economics of Horticultural Production)

Financer
Europäische Union (EU) - HU als Beteiligte

Duration of project
Start date: 05/2006
End date: 01/2008

Last updated on 2022-07-09 at 21:05