BAT-Vinataba provides seedlings and computers to Gia Lai farmers

Gia Lai is one of the five localities to receive seedlings within the framework of the BAT-Vinataba JV’s 2011 afforestation programme under which more than 1.4 million seedlings, worth over VND1 billion ($50,000), are being donated.

BAT-Vinataba started afforestation support for Gia Lai in 2003. Since then, the company has provided 6,547,314 seedlings worth VND1.8 billion to the province, which is estimated to help reforest about 2,317 ha of free land and hills.

In addition to supporting afforestation, BAT-Vinataba donated 15 sets of modern computers, 15 sets of tables and chairs, a printer, a scanning machine, a voltage stabiliser and other equipment to the Iapa boarding-school, Iapa district at total value of over VND115 millionon August 29.

The project aims to teach computer skills to teachers and pupils from the district’s minority populations who have not previously had the opportunity to become familiar with computers. This is the first time such an initiative has been set up in this rural district.

After Gia Lai, other localities to receive seedlings in 2011 include Tay Ninh (150,000 seedlings), Dong Nai (270,000 seedlings) and Cao Bang (250,000 seedlings). Earlier this year, on June 8, 250,000 seedlings, worth VND237 million, were handed to Ngan Son district of northern mountainous Bac Kan Province.

BAT-Vinataba’s afforestation programme has been running continuously for the past ten years, aiming to respond to the Vietnamese government’s call for the protection of forestry resources and for businesses to help individuals and organisations to cover free land and bare hills with greenery and raise their awareness of environmental protection.

In the past ten years, the company has donated nearly 24 million seedlings to the localities mentioned above, including Acacia, Hopea, Shorea, Eucalyptus and some other street plants worth more than VND7 billion. The programme has helped reforest more than 8,343 hectares in Tay Ninh, Gia Lai, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Bac Kan and Dong Nai provinces.

BAT-Vinataba’s factory with Vinataba in southern Dong Nai province commenced its commercial operation of processing cut rag tobacco in 2005. Volumes produced have increased year-on-year, and reached more than 19,000 metric tonnes by the end of 2010. It has replaced cut rag tobacco which used to be imported and now supplies more than one-third of the demand of the tobacco industry in Vietnam.

The joint venture factory has also created more than 100 jobs for Vietnamese employees and has contributed more than VND4 trillion ($200 million) to the state budget.