LAGAYAN, Abra (PIA) – At least 63 tobacco farmers in Lagayan continue to receive assistance from the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Lagayan.
NTA-Abra OIC Branch Head Atty. Jun Fred Parado said that the municipal government led by Mayor Edmarc Crisologo committed machinery and other assistance to the tobacco farmers during a consultation meeting prior to the start of the tobacco growing season.
“For the upcoming tobacco season, aid from the LGU includes provision of water pump with hose, hand tractor, fertilizers and crop protection agents, curing barns for new farmers, grass cutters, knapsack sprayers, assistance in the cost of construction and repair of deep wells, cash incentives of P10 per kilo of tobacco, payment of the 60 percent production assistance to NTA, and purchase of seedlings,” he shared.
Meanwhile, the NTA continuously conducts consultations, training and demonstrations, and distributes financial aid to the tobacco farmers.
“Technical and cash assistance po ang counterpart ng NTA. Iyong sa NTA is nasa P10,000 per hectare ang binibigay sa ating farmers,” NTA-Abra Agriculturist I Marife Perez Peralta said.
She added that the NTA recently conducted a demonstration on proper sowing of tobacco seeds among farmers from barangay Pang-ot and Collago. This training helped in improving the knowledge and skills of Lagayan farmers in the planting and growing of tobacco.
Earlier, the NTA and LGU joint team also held consultations with farmer cooperators in the municipality to identify issues and concerns including possible interventions. During the consultation, the NTA also distributed tobacco seeds and Tobacco Production Manuals to the farmers.
“We will also be having our Tobacco Contract Growing System (TCGS) Orientation-Seminar for tobacco farmers in Lagayan on October 23, 2024 at the municipal hall,” Peralted shared.
The TCGS is a program of the NTA that provides production, technical and marketing assistance, and subsidies to tobacco farmers.
Parado thanked the LGU, farmers, and other stakeholders for the collaboration towards the development of tobacco production in Lagayan.
“Thank you for continually looking after the overall interest and welfare of our tobacco farmers in your locality. Kadagiti tobacco farmers, agyaman kami iti nalaos unay iti suportayo,” he said.
In Lagayan, a total of 29.30 hectares of land will be planted with tobacco this upcoming 2024-2025 tobacco growing season. (JJPM, PIA-CAR, Abra)
