The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) is set to distribute a P100 million crop production grant to qualified tobacco farmers nationwide for the 2024-2025 cropping season. In a statement released Wednesday, the NTA said 16,666 tobacco farmers will receive P6,000 each in financial aid to be disbursed by 15 December 2024.
The recipients, identified by NTA branch offices, include both tobacco contract growing system (TCGS) farmers and non-TCGS farmers who meet the required conditions for tobacco cultivation. Of the total, 9,055 are TCGS farmers who grew tobacco on one hectare or less of land, while 7,611 are non-TCGS farmers with up to half a hectare of tobacco crops.
The funds will reach farmers in various regions, including Abra (992 recipients), Batac, Ilocos Norte (2,778), Cagayan (700), and several other provinces. This support is part of the government’s effort to strengthen the tobacco sector, which contributes 1 percent of the country’s GDP and 6 percent of annual tax revenue, as noted by Agriculture undersecretary Deogracias Victor Savellano.
The grant is funded through the General Appropriation Act and aims to bolster tobacco production, helping farmers improve the quality of their crops and enhance their income. As the tobacco season runs from September to June, NTA branch offices will ensure recipients meet all requirements before the grant distribution begins.
This initiative follows the successful distribution of a similar aid program in the previous cropping year, continuing the NTA’s efforts to support local farmers and improve the tobacco industry’s overall sustainability.
