Ben Brand
Well-Known Member
Reading the posts for seed grow outs I see that it is illegal to grow tobacco in Aus I don't know why, but this is what happened to me.
Here in SA we can grow anything exept weed, which are grown by many I'm sure. In Sa all tobacco are controlled by a few Co Ops and only they can provide the growers with seed and only them can buy the tobacco from the farmers and only BAT ( British American Tobaccos) can buy from the Co Ops.
When I started my cigar tobacco growing hobby I spoke about it to friends and my story got out to one of the Directors of one of the Co ops that has a branch in the town I was living in. He saw me one day and ask me where and how am I'm doing thiis, after telling him my plans etc he then ask me about the seeds, I told him that I got it from the USA ( Deluxe), he asked me to please not go ahead with my hobby.
His reasons: I might bring in new tobacco diseases from the USA to SA.
The tobacco I planted might cross polinate with the SA varieties.
I can't bring in seeds that is not from a reputable seed supplier, because of the diseases.
Bla bla bla
He basicly told me I can't plant cigar tobacco in SA.
My responds: I am doing this as a hobby and are not making cigars for selling (yet).
If he can stop all the veg etc growers in SA that gets their seeds from from other countries then I will stop.
If he can supply me with enough cigars or cigar tobacco to smoke at least on a day I will stop.
I told him he can not stop me from growing my tobacco.
What I'm trying to say with this long story is, why are they trying to stop us, here and in Aus, do they think that a few home growers will topple their tobacco empire?
I think that was the motive of that director, he knew he couldn't stop me, but he thought he will give it a go.
He saw me a few times but never mentioned it again.
Myabe we must start questioning all these rules and regulations. Start a tobacco revolution.
Ben
Here in SA we can grow anything exept weed, which are grown by many I'm sure. In Sa all tobacco are controlled by a few Co Ops and only they can provide the growers with seed and only them can buy the tobacco from the farmers and only BAT ( British American Tobaccos) can buy from the Co Ops.
When I started my cigar tobacco growing hobby I spoke about it to friends and my story got out to one of the Directors of one of the Co ops that has a branch in the town I was living in. He saw me one day and ask me where and how am I'm doing thiis, after telling him my plans etc he then ask me about the seeds, I told him that I got it from the USA ( Deluxe), he asked me to please not go ahead with my hobby.
His reasons: I might bring in new tobacco diseases from the USA to SA.
The tobacco I planted might cross polinate with the SA varieties.
I can't bring in seeds that is not from a reputable seed supplier, because of the diseases.
Bla bla bla
He basicly told me I can't plant cigar tobacco in SA.
My responds: I am doing this as a hobby and are not making cigars for selling (yet).
If he can stop all the veg etc growers in SA that gets their seeds from from other countries then I will stop.
If he can supply me with enough cigars or cigar tobacco to smoke at least on a day I will stop.
I told him he can not stop me from growing my tobacco.
What I'm trying to say with this long story is, why are they trying to stop us, here and in Aus, do they think that a few home growers will topple their tobacco empire?
I think that was the motive of that director, he knew he couldn't stop me, but he thought he will give it a go.
He saw me a few times but never mentioned it again.
Myabe we must start questioning all these rules and regulations. Start a tobacco revolution.
Ben
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