Philippine government vows to assist tobacco growers

Amid the decreasing hectarage of tobacco farms, the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) is determined to assist farmers grow their tobacco production through a contract-growing scheme, seedling assistance, modernization, among others.NTA Administrator Robert Victor G. Seares Jr. said the ongoing pandemic and effects of recent calamities on tobacco farms give his agency more resolve to assist tobacco growers.“They are essential to our economy, the backbone of the industry, and they should be given the support that they deserve,” he added. Moving forward, NTA will continue promoting a market-oriented approach in tobacco production through the Tobacco Contract Growing System (TCGS).This includes the adoption of a contract-growing scheme to enhance participation of the private sector in technology transfer, production assistance, and leaf marketing.The number of registered farmers who planted tobacco increased by 39 percent from 29,830 in 2018 to 2019 tobacco season to 41,516 in ...