Manila: About 1,200 tobacco growers in Ilocos Norte received PHP6,000 in cash assistance each Thursday and Friday to boost their income, the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) said.
According to Philippines News Agency, NTA General Manager Randy Abella stated on Friday that the beneficiaries are part of the agency's Tobacco Contract Growing System (TCGS) program. This program offers production, technical, and marketing support to tobacco growers. Abella highlighted that, in addition to the cash aid, tobacco farmers not enrolled in the TCGS will receive grants tailored to their needs.
He mentioned that all registered tobacco farmers are eligible for a production grant, though the specific amount for those outside the TCGS is still being finalized. Local government units in the province are also contributing by distributing fertilizers, insecticides, and other agricultural inputs.
The NTA provides an average of PHP50,000 per hectare in production assistance to contract growers, with a 40-percent subsidy. This year, 1,259 farmers have joined the contract system. Tobacco farmer Nestor Asuncion of San Nicolas shared that this support motivated his transition from rice to tobacco cultivation. "With the high cost of agricultural inputs and fuel, I would rather plant tobacco because everything is provided, including machinery. Just make sure you produce quality leaves," he expressed.
