Current issue: Leaf  News Producers to lobby WHO on tobacco Russia import Rs. 25 billion from India Tobacco outshines other in ag sector China digests leaf expansion technology Producers to lobby WHO on tobacco     LONDON, ENGLAND - International tobacco producers met World Health Organization officials to convince them that its campaign against tobacco could destroy the livelihoods of farmers in developing nations.     The International Tobacco Growers' Association (ITGA) tried to convince Derek Yach, who heads the WHO's Tobacco Free Initiative(TFI), that ending tobacco growing would be disastrous for many emerging economies.     "We believe the WHO does not fully understand the effect TFI would have on tobacco growers in poor regions," said Antonio Abrunhosa, executive director of the ITGA, whose member countries produce 80% of the world's tobacco.     Dr. Abrunhosa said: "Tobacco farmers can't simply switch to other crops like cocoa or sugar. Tobacco is often grown in areas where other crops will not grow." He said local economies in countries such as Tanzania and Malawi relied on the crop.     "Tobacco provides stability. It is a good cash crop with stable demand and earns farmers much more than other crops," Dr. Abrunhosa said.     The ITGA adds that growers' profits from the crop are modest compared with tax income that governments in developed countries make from tobacco sales. "A kilogram of tobacco leaf sold in a developing country for US$ 2 can earn more than US$ 291 in excise revenue for developed country governments," the association said.     WHO instead vowed to continue its program to dissuade farmers from producing tobacco and encourage them to move into other crops. (john) Russia import Rs. 25 billion from India     NEW DELHI - The Russian government has agreed in principle to import Rs. 25 billion worth tobacco from India, according to a statement by India's commerce minister in January. He held talks with Russia's prime minister and commerce minister who visited the country in December. Tobacco outshines other in ag sector     MANILA - While Philippine agricultural growth hit an all-time low at 6.67% last year, tobacco, abaca, mango, onion, and rubber posted higher output of PP270.4 billion in terms of gross value of production at current prices, 4.60% lower than in 1997's. The lower production is blamed on the El Ni?o and La Ni?a weather phenomena. (john) China digests leaf expansion technology     BEIJING - China's second dry ice expanded tobacco processing line has worked well experimentally in the Wuhu Cigarette factory of Anhui Province. The system is Chinese-designed based upon tobacco expansion technology from BAT's DIET process. The machine using carbon dioxide cost 50.78 million yuan and its production capacity is 593 kg/h. The first line of this kind was installed in the Guiyang Cigarette Factory. (liao)

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