The Regent of Pamekasan, Baddrut Tamam admitted that he continues to support the development of tobacco agricultural products in the local area. One of them is through the construction of the Tobacco Products Industrial Estate (KIHT) which is targeted to be completed by the end of 2021. Baddrut Tamam said that currently there are seven hand-rolled cigarette entrepreneurs associations that have expressed interest in joining the KIHT. "KiHT is now under construction. Our target early next year is to be able to partner with all of us. So later, tobacco can be used as perfume, it can be used as cigarettes, the standards are guaranteed," he said while attending a tobacco planting festival in Dusun Tengah, Proppo District, Pamekasan, Sunday (19/6). Baddrut explained that the development of the tobacco ecosystem really needs to be carried out in Pamekasan. He explained, in Pamekasan and generally Madura Island, tobacco is not just an agricultural business. He stated that growing and processing tobacco in Madura could be called a culture that was passed down from generation to generation from their ancestors.

The general chairman of the Indonesian Tobacco Farmers Association (APTI), Suseno, welcomed the construction of the KIHT in Pamekasan. He explained, in some areas, the construction of KIHT is indeed possible. Especially in areas where there are tobacco farmers, tobacco processing industries, and skilled workers. "In some places the tobacco products industrial area is indeed possible. There are raw materials, there are industries, there are skilled workers in one area. But that cannot be generalized as in Pamekasan. Apart from Pamekasan, there are Kudus and Bondowoso which allow KIHT to be built," he said. Suseno explained that the contribution of tobacco from Pamekasan to the national tobacco production reached 36 percent. Suseno continued, if he elaborated further, 60% of the national tobacco production was contributed by tobacco from East Java. Then of the total tobacco production in East Java, 60% comes from Pamekasan. He also emphasized how big the contribution of Pamekasan Regency to the national tobacco production. "Therefore, the supply of tobacco from Pamekasan if it is shaken, the national can be shaken," he said.

Source: https://www.republika.co.id/berita/rdr497380/pemkab-pamekasan-bangun-kawasan-industri-hasil-tembakau