The Branch Offices of the National Tobacco Administration focused field works for the on-farm evaluation of top performing tobacco growers who are nominated for the Tobacco Growers of the Year (TGY) contest.
The TGY Technical Committee of each Branch Office in tobacco-growing provinces will select the provincial winner for each tobacco type (Virginia, Burley and Nartive) and sub-type for the current crop year based on set criteria.
TGY recognizes the continuing efforts of tobacco growers who show innovativeness, efficiency, compliance with Good Agricultural Practices, and who protect the environment and demonstrate application of science and technology-based knowledge during tobacco production.
In Abra, Minerva P. Mizal, manager in charge of NTA Abra, visited on February 12 the Virginia Improved Flavor tobacco farm of contract grower Vicente Pira, one of the 11 farmers in Abra vying for the TGY provincial level, in Barangay Vicalabaan, San Quintin. Mizal and her team also conducted on-farm visits to other TGY contestants in Pilar town.
The TGY Branch Technical Committee evaluated the tobacco based on crop stand which includes uniformity of plants, disease incidence and insect damage, including the adoption of recommended variety, fertilizer application, and recommended Crop Protection Agents.
In Ilocos Norte, the TGY Branch Technical Committee, headed by NTA Ilocos Norte officer-in-charge Luzviminda U. Padayao, checked on the crop stand of the Virginia Improved Flavor tobacco of Danilo Laforteza in Banna, Ilocos Norte, on February 11.
The Branch Technical Committee, after the on-farm visits of TGY contestants in Pinili and Sarrat on the same day, has already completed on-farm visitations of 18 of the 21 nominated tobacco growers vying for the provincial level in Ilocos Norte.
In Ilocos Sur, NTA Candon has completed as of February 10 on-farm visits to all 41 contestants vying for the provincial level award in the second district of Ilocos Sur. According to Adonis D. Lazo, acting head of the Branch Operations, the TGY Branch Technical Committee has started pre-evaluation to select eight tobacco growers who will compete for the next round of evaluation for the provincial title.
Other criteria for evaluation of winners include cleanliness of surroundings, absence of non-tobacco related materials in work area, assessment of curing barns or sheds, quality of cured leaves and yield per hectare, and completeness and timeliness of records.
NTA Branch Offices in Vigan (representing the first district of Ilocos Sur), Pangasinan, La Union, Isabela and Cagayan have also conducted monitoring and on-farm visitation of their respective contestants for the annual award.
The provincial winners will compete for the National Contest scheduled next year.