THE National Tobacco Administration (NTA) has started the distribution of around P100 million worth of production assistance to help farmers boost local tobacco output, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday.
“The giving of production assistance for our tobacco farmers is realized under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. through Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. and the NTA to enhance the production of quality tobacco,” DA Undersecretary Deogracias Victor Savellano said in a statement.
The assistance will cover at least 16,666 qualified tobacco farmers for the cropping year 2024 to 2025, which began in September and will last until June next year.
Each farmer will receive cash assistance worth P6,000 on or before Dec. 15, the DA official said.
Savellano underscored the need for production grants considering the industry’s contribution to the country’s economy.
“The tobacco industry remains one of the strongest pillars of the country’s economy contributing 1 percent of the gross domestic product and 6 percent of the overall annual tax revenue collections,” he said.
The highest numbers of farmer-beneficiaries are recorded in Isabela, with 2,925; followed by Batac, Ilocos Norte with 2,778; Candon, Ilocos Sur, 2,573; Pangasinan, 1,765; La Union, 1,667; Mindanao, 1,666; Vigan, Ilocos Sur, 1,600; Abra, 992; and Cagayan, 700.
Out of this figure, 9,055 farmers are listed in the NTA’s Tobacco Contract Growing System program while the remaining 7,611 are nonmembers.
Among the requirements include registration under NTA with a personal tilling farm, sufficient labor capacity for all activities in quality tobacco production, provision for basic farm tools and equipment, as well as adequate irrigation water sources.
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