Apart from its fame for coffee, Gia Lai Province, in the Central Highlands, is also where nearly 9% of the country’s tobacco is grown.

Tobacco fields in Gia Lai

Tobacco farmers in Gia Lai have high hopes this year with rising tobacco prices. The province has 3,500 out of total 39,000 hectares of tobacco fields nationwide.

“Tobacco grows well in dry weather. It’s often planted in the lunar month of November, to be harvested three months later,” said Le Hong Truong, who has grown tobacco for five years in Ko Nia Hamlet, Ia Trok Commune, Ia Pa District.

Tobacco harvesting is an important, but the drying process takes more attention. Farmers pick only three or four yellow leaves from one tobacco plant each harvest.

Harvested leaves are often dried for seven days. This is the most important phase deciding the quality of tobacco. Farmers have to keep a close watch to the drying ovens during the period.

“Most of citizens in Gia Lai came from the northern areas. Once they came here, they started growing tobacco,” said Ms Lan, a tobacco grower in Ko Nia Commune.

Photos captured from a tobacco plantation in Gia Lai:

Harvesting time

The end of harvest season

Farmer’s hands take on the colour

Preparation before drying

A drying oven

Dry tobacco is sold for VND60,000 (USD2.86)/kilogramme