黃(huang)(huang)煙是(shi)南(nan)雄(xiong)(xiong)一(yi)寶,南(nan)雄(xiong)(xiong)農(nong)民種煙、嗜煙,一(yi)輩子離不開煙;南(nan)雄(xiong)(xiong)卷煙廠產(chan)煙、銷煙,“百順”、“珠璣”行銷各(ge)地(di)。南(nan)雄(xiong)(xiong)重要(yao)的經濟支柱是(shi)黃(huang)(huang)煙,每(mei)年黃(huang)(huang)煙收入要(yao)占國民經濟總(zong)收入的一(yi)半以上(shang)。
南雄黃煙種植已有300多年歷(li)史(shi)。南雄煙葉(xie)(xie)品質(zhi)優良(liang),為我(wo)國煙葉(xie)(xie)商(shang)品的名牌產品,歷(li)來飲譽(yu)中(zhong)外,內銷(xiao)全國28個大中(zhong)城市,曾一度遠銷(xiao)67個國家和地區(qu)。
1984年(nian)(nian)至1994年(nian)(nian),累計煙(yan)(yan)葉(xie)總(zong)產(chan)21萬(wan)噸(dun),年(nian)(nian)均(jun)(jun)產(chan)2.1萬(wan)噸(dun),為廣東省年(nian)(nian)均(jun)(jun)產(chan)量的50%左(zuo)右。10年(nian)(nian)平(ping)均(jun)(jun)收購(gou)煙(yan)(yan)葉(xie)15600噸(dun)。為全省年(nian)(nian)均(jun)(jun)收購(gou)量的60%左(zuo)右。煙(yan)(yan)葉(xie)產(chan)量和收購(gou)量均(jun)(jun)居(ju)全省之首(shou)。全國煙(yan)(yan)草種植面積達20萬(wan)畝以上的縣市只有6個,南雄是其中之一。
由此可見(jian)南(nan)雄(xiong)(xiong)黃煙(yan)(yan)(yan)在(zai)全省舉足(zu)輕重,在(zai)全國(guo)名列前茅。1985年,廣東省煙(yan)(yan)(yan)草總公司確(que)定南(nan)雄(xiong)(xiong)為優質生(sheng)產基(ji)地。1986年,中(zhong)國(guo)煙(yan)(yan)(yan)草總公司又確(que)定南(nan)雄(xiong)(xiong)為出口曬煙(yan)(yan)(yan)生(sheng)產基(ji)地。1992年,原中(zhong)國(guo)煙(yan)(yan)(yan)草總公司總經理李益三到南(nan)雄(xiong)(xiong)視察時(shi),欣然題詞:“金葉(xie)之鄉(xiang)(xiang)在(zai)南(nan)雄(xiong)(xiong)"。的確(que),不論從(cong)數(shu)量還(huan)是(shi)質量來看(kan),南(nan)雄(xiong)(xiong)堪稱(cheng)煙(yan)(yan)(yan)葉(xie)之鄉(xiang)(xiang)。全市24個鄉(xiang)(xiang)鎮都種植黃煙(yan)(yan)(yan),煙(yan)(yan)(yan)農10余萬(wan)戶,占(zhan)總戶數(shu)的八成多。在(zai)南(nan)雄(xiong)(xiong)盆地田野上,黃煙(yan)(yan)(yan)連綿20余萬(wan)畝,春來一片(pian)翠綠,夏至一片(pian)金黃。到了收煙(yan)(yan)(yan)季節,烤房(fang)爐火通明,村巷煙(yan)(yan)(yan)葉(xie)飄(piao)香。全市上下為煙(yan)(yan)(yan)葉(xie)而忙碌,為煙(yan)(yan)(yan)葉(xie)而歡笑。
南(nan)(nan)(nan)雄(xiong)黃煙(yan)(yan)于清(qing)(qing)初自(zi)閩(min)南(nan)(nan)(nan)傳入,至今300多年(nian)(nian)(nian),盛產不衰。閩(min)南(nan)(nan)(nan)黃煙(yan)(yan)是怎樣(yang)傳入南(nan)(nan)(nan)雄(xiong)的呢?主要通過(guo)兩條渠(qu)道:一條是通過(guo)氏族遷徙(xi)。南(nan)(nan)(nan)雄(xiong)不少氏族來(lai)(lai)自(zi)閩(min)南(nan)(nan)(nan),他們遷徙(xi)來(lai)(lai)南(nan)(nan)(nan)雄(xiong)的同時(shi),把黃煙(yan)(yan)的生(sheng)產技(ji)術也帶到了南(nan)(nan)(nan)雄(xiong);另(ling)一條渠(qu)道是商業(ye)貿(mao)易(yi)。明清(qing)(qing)南(nan)(nan)(nan)雄(xiong)商業(ye)貿(mao)易(yi)非常繁榮,閩(min)南(nan)(nan)(nan)來(lai)(lai)南(nan)(nan)(nan)雄(xiong)經商的人不少,他們為了獲(huo)取商業(ye)利潤,很樂意(yi)把黃煙(yan)(yan)生(sheng)產技(ji)術引進南(nan)(nan)(nan)雄(xiong)。黃煙(yan)(yan)傳入南(nan)(nan)(nan)雄(xiong)后,與南(nan)(nan)(nan)雄(xiong)特(te)有(you)的土壤、氣(qi)候條件相適應,煙(yan)(yan)葉品質優良(liang),種者(zhe)日眾。清(qing)(qing)乾隆嘉(jia)年(nian)(nian)(nian)間已成一方特(te)產。清(qing)(qing)道光四年(nian)(nian)(nian)《直(zhi)隸南(nan)(nan)(nan)雄(xiong)州志(zhi).物產》載:"煙(yan)(yan)葉,舊志(zhi)未(wei)載,近年(nian)(nian)(nian)四五十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)日暫(zan)增植,春種秋收,每年(nian)(nian)(nian)貨銀百萬兩,其(qi)利幾與禾(he)稻(dao)等。"。
南雄(xiong)黃葉以葉色金(jin)黃、煙(yan)(yan)味醇(chun)香(xiang)、易燃(ran)灰白三大(da)特性(xing)而素(su)負(fu)盛名,為當今各大(da)煙(yan)(yan)廠(chang)生(sheng)產品牌卷煙(yan)(yan)之原料(liao)。南雄(xiong)曬煙(yan)(yan)歷來很(hen)受外商歡迎,出口(kou)頗(po)多。
民國時(shi)期已暢銷五大洲67個國家(jia)和(he)地區。1953年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)到1979年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)出口額(e)三五百噸(dun),多(duo)的(de)1954年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),出口1155噸(dun)。1980年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)后,由于國外煙葉市(shi)場的(de)變化,消費習慣由清香型變為濃香型,外貿(mao)出口停止。
近(jin)幾(ji)年,隨著煙葉品種改良,質量提高,南雄煙葉又恢復出口。