CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela (PIA) — The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) – Isabela Provincial Office recently launched the “Gulayan at Manukan sa Barangay Project” (GMBP) benefitting 226 tobacco farmers in this province.
OIC Department Manager Perpetuo C. Dalloran said the program supports the effort of the present administration through the Department of Agriculture towards food sufficiency through poultry production and backyard vegetable production.
He also said the project is the agency’s contribution to the nutrition and food security agenda of the government, specifically by capacitating farming households to produce their own food and raise additional income for their family.
“Every farmer recipient is given a package of agricultural essentials. These include a valuable assortment of seed packs containing okra, sitaw, eggplant, ampalaya, and sili respectively including foliar fertilizers for vegetable growing,” Dalloran said.
For poultry production, inputs were also handed to the farmers comprising of 25 kilograms of chick booster, 75 kilograms of chick starter, and 27 heads of broiler day-old chicks, he added.
The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) – Isabela provides livelihood assistance to tobacco farmers in the province through launching of Gulayan at Manukan project. At least 226 tobacco farmers benefitted to the said project. Photo from NTA Isabela)
“A total of 18 tobacco-growing municipalities in Isabela, including Alicia, Aurora, Benito Soliven, Burgos, Cabagan, Cauayan City, City of Ilagan, Delfin Albano, Gamu, Luna, Mallig, Naguillian, Quezon, Quirino, Reina Mercedes, Roxas, San Mateo, and Tumauini, and Alfonso Lista of the province of Ifugai, were among the recipients of this project,” Dalloran said.
Dalloran said that the intervention aims to extend a helping hand to tobacco farmers, enabling them to secure supplementary income and maintain a steady food supply.
Meanwhile, tobacco farmer-leader Juanito B. Matias, a beneficiary, expressed his thanks to NTA for providing them with livelihood opportunities that are essential for their family.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa ating Pangulong Marcos sa pamamagitan ng National Tobacco Administration sa pagbigay sa amin ng tulong sa pagmamanukan at binhi ng gulay. Labis ang maitutulong nito sa aming pamilya dahil sigurado po magkakaroon ng pagkain sa aming hapag kainan dahil sa mga biyayang ito,” Matias said. (OTB/MGE / PIA Isabela) )
