KT&G Donates 420 Million KRW in Welfare Support Funds to Domestic Leaf Tobacco Farmers

Health Checkups, Children's Scholarships, and Production Equipment Purchases Utilized
Annual Grants Provided Since 2013
Cumulative 4.2 Billion KRW, Benefiting Over 15,000 People

KT&G announced on the 26th that it has delivered approximately 420 million KRW in welfare improvement support funds to domestic tobacco leaf farmers for mutual growth.

The support funds are used for health check-up costs, scholarships for farmers' children, and the purchase of Baepungyeol fuel reduction devices for tobacco leaf cultivators.

Kim Jeong-ho, Head of SCM Division at KT&G (left), and Jang Seong-woo, Chairman of the Central Association of Flue-cured Tobacco Production Cooperatives, are posing for a commemorative photo at the welfare support fund delivery ceremony for front-line tobacco farmers.
[Photo by KT&G]

Previously, KT&G has provided welfare improvement support funds to tobacco leaf farms annually since 2013, totaling 4.277 billion KRW to date. The number of cultivators who benefited during the same period reached 15,212.

Domestic tobacco leaf farms are facing difficulties securing labor due to the declining rural population and aging issues. Given the high labor intensity of tobacco leaf cultivation, which is difficult to mechanize, there is a strong need for attention to the health management of tobacco leaf cultivators.

The Baepungyeol fuel reduction device is equipment that recirculates the heat emitted externally during tobacco leaf drying through dryers back inside, thereby reducing fuel consumption. KT&G has provided a total of 214 units from 2022 to this year to help farms reduce fuel costs and carbon emissions. Additionally, KT&G purchases all domestically produced tobacco leaves annually and dispatches employee volunteer teams during tobacco leaf transplanting and harvesting seasons to assist with labor.

Kim Jeong-ho, Head of KT&G SCM Division, said, "We continue the welfare improvement support project for farms to alleviate farmers' difficulties and provide practical help," adding, "We will continue to support so that it can help improve the health and economic conditions of tobacco leaf farms in the future."