News Articles
Northern Mindanao area eyed for Virginia tobacco production
INCREASES in tobacco production over the past two years have been driven by expansion in area and increased yields, with an increase of 4.46 % from 2012 to 2013.
And though Ilocos region has a vibrant tobacco industry, private tobacco firms continue to search for areas to plant tobacco, particularly the Virginia type.
Apparently, one good choice is Misamis Oriental in Northern Mindanao, chosen for its vast fertile land and good climatic condition.
Tobacco farmers in Misamis Oriental, particularly in the municipalities of Opol, El Salvador, Alubijid, Laguindingan, Gitagum, Libertad, and Initao, have been growing the Batek/Native variety only.
Based on National Tobacco Administration (NTA) data, a total of 560 hectares were planted to tobacco of this type with a total production of 431,771 kilograms during the crop year 2011-2012.
With the area expansion, NTA Administrator Edgardo D. Zaragoza expects also the continuing process of improving the quality of tobacco leaves. He said enhanced quality would make Philippine tobacco very competitive in the world market.
According to Jorge Struecker, leaf buying manager of Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation (PMFTC) during a dialogue in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, the project in Misamis Oriental is producing high-quality tobacco and it’s doing very well. “It’s very small at the moment but it is giving the potential,” he said.
PMFTC established in January 2012 its first Virginia tobacco experimental farm, covering 10 hectares in barangay Ane-i, Claveria, an interior municipality in the eastern part of Misamis Oriental.
After seeing promising results from its pre-commercial launch, Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation (PMFTC), a private local manufacturer, is now seeking to expand its Virginia production in Mindanao.
According to PMFTC, the initial result of the trial was very promising, so they proceeded to the pre-commercialization phase. Some 113 farmers representing a total area of 58.27 hectares were involved in the second phase which ended October last year.
PMFTC extended production assistance (cash, inputs, and technical), including tobacco seedlings to the farmers. During harvest, the company bought the fresh tobacco leaves from the farmers, and did the flue curing using the six barns it constructed with the slabs from sawmills as fuel.
The first batch of transplanting for the commercialization phase was conducted in November 2013. The company practiced staggered transplanting of K326 and PVH 2254 varieties, from November 2013 to April 2014, covering a total area of 200 hectares.
Based on a survey conducted by the NTA thru its outreach station in Mindanao, most farmers in Claveria are willing to shift to tobacco farming as they can avail production assistance from PMFTC. They said that they no longer worry about their post-harvest activities since the company will buy the freshly harvested leaves from the growers.
Aside from the promise of a bigger income in tobacco farming, the farmers were also optimistic for the employment opportunities provided by the tobacco firm with its expansion program. (with reports from Mercy Ayco)
back
 |
 |
 |
 |