LOCAL tobacco firms bought a total of 17.2 million kilos of virginia leaf worth P909 million from local farmers in January to June this year, according to data from the National Tobacco Administration (NTA).

The NTA, an attached agency of the DA, noted that this figure is 30 percent higher than the 12.9 million kilos worth P705 million they bought from local farmers during the same period last year.

While buying among local tobacco firms for locally produced tobacco increased, Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap said the NTA, together with farmers, should work together to increase production to supply all the requirements of local cigarette firms.

“Last year the Philippines produced around 45 million kilos of tobacco. But big cigarette manufacturers imported around 71.8 million kilos of virginia leaf.  There is really more room for growth for local producers,” said Yap in his speech during the 20th anniversary of the NTA on Tuesday night.

Data from the NTA show that imports for last year was 6 percent less than the 83 million kilos worth $267.6 million imported by cigarette manufacturers in 2005, indicating the possibility that tobacco firms are increasingly looking at domestic producers.

To supply the requirements of the local market, Yap said the NTA should expand areas for tobacco.

The DA chief said also the NTA should provide more technical assistance to tobacco farmers to ensure that the leaves they produce are of superior quality. “[Cigarette manufacturers] will not buy from us if the quality of tobacco leaves we sell is poor,” said Yap.

Aside from these, Yap directed the NTA to provide livelihood support to tobacco farmers to augment their incomes.

Tobacco is grown in about 27 provinces, covering approximately 40,297 hectares. The country grows four types of tobacco, namely, virginia, burley and Turkish tobaccos, referred to as aromatic tobacco, and native tobacco.

Virginia tobacco is the most prevalent and it is planted in 58 percent of the total tobacco area and is commercially grown in the four Ilocos provinces of Abra,  Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union.

LOCAL tobacco firms bought a total of 17.2 million kilos of virginia leaf worth P909 million from local farmers in January to June this year, according to data from the National Tobacco Administration (NTA).

WITH its contingency measures in place, the National Power Corp. (Napocor) assured Wednesday its customers that the power supply situation in Luzon will normalize soon.

THE US government has urged Philippine private companies to strengthen their programs on corporate  social responsibility (CSR) because corporate ideas and resources are vital to addressing social challenges that abound in the Philippines.

AN increase in consumers’ power bills could be expected as industrial diesel oil used by power producers have increased by roughly P1 a liter owing to the 1-percent coco-methyl ester (CME) blend requirement, sources told reporters Wednesday.

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