Tobacco Output Up 26% in 1Q

Source from:  Manila Times 06/27/2011

THE country's tobacco production has increased by a fourth in the first quarter of this year, the National Tobacco Administration said on Sunday. In a report to Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Edgardo Zaragoza, NTA administrator, said production increased by 26 percent to 73,767 metric tons in the first quarter from 58,572 MT last year. He also said there was a 13-percent increase in yield per hectare, or from 1,931 kilograms per hectare to 2,184 kg/ha. Zaragoza attributed the increase to the technology packages, technical assistance and marketing services provided by NTA under its Market Driven Quality Tobacco Production, a component of its Integrated Farming and Other Income Generating Activities Project. The project has benefited 54,337 farmers tilling 38,275 hectares of tobacco. This is equivalent to a 13-percent increase in farmer-beneficiaries compared with the previous year's 48,259 farmers, as well as to a 16 percent increase in area from 32,871 hectares. For the project's rice component, some P7.7 million in production assistance was extended to 825 tobacco farmers tilling 683 hectares of rice. This has resulted in rice production volume of 3,483 metric tons, and an increase in yield by 24 percent, Zaragoza said. In 2009 and 2010, rice production under this program was placed at 3.18 tons and 3.95 tons per hectare. Under the agency's Tobacco Contract Growing System, which got a P126 million fund for the 2009-2010 calender year, 7,023 farmers benefited, or a 51-percent increase from the previous year's 4,652. From an initial 2,793 has., the area covered increased to 4,903 has., representing a 76-percent increase from the previous year. This has generated 6,815 additional jobs, Zaragoza said. Production assistance extended to farmers, funded by a P180 million fund for calender year 2010-2011, has benefited 9,583 farmers fior a 36.45 percent increase, covering 6,536.27 has. or a 33.31 percent increase, and generating an additional 9,585 new jobs. Zaragoza also said that tobacco trading is still in progress, but production based on trading and acceptances is projected to reach 79,000 MT, equivalent to an 8.22 percent increase. The NTA has completed the construction of 836 curing barns for Virginia tobacco, grains and rice under its Multi-purpose Curing Barn Project funded by an P84.4 million budget released earlier this year. The number is 84 percent of the targeted 1,000 barns to be constructed under the NTA's infrastructure and post harvest development program. Zaragoza also said that the NTA's seed production and distribution efforts has resulted in the distribution of 158 kilograms of certified tobacco seeds, benefiting 12,500 farmers planting in around 688 hectares. Enditem