Tobacco farmers to get P100-M crop production aid
BAGUIO CITY — Tobacco industry regulator National Tobacco Administration (NTA) is readying the handover of a P100-million crop production aid for qualified tobacco farmers nationwide for cropping year (CY) 2024 – 2025.
At least 16,666 tobacco farmers were identified as recipients of the cash assistance of P6,000 each for each tobacco farmer to be handed over to them on or before December 15, 2024.
A recent conference, presided over by Agriculture Undersecretary Deogracias Victor B. Savellano with NTA Administrator Belinda S. Sanchez, decided based on guidelines set and approved by the NTA Governing Board.
“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 considering that the tobacco industry remains one of the strongest pillars of the country’s economy contributing 1% of the gross domestic product (GDP) and 6% of the overall annual tax revenue collections,” Mr. Savellano pointed out.
Of the 16,666 tobacco farmers crop production assistance beneficiaries, 9,055 are farmers logged under the NTA’s Tobacco Contract Growing System (TCGS) program, and 7,611 are non-TCGS farmers. — Artemio A. Dumlao
