The National Tobacco Administration has started training 170 of its extension workers on approved technology for seedling production under the Improved Tobacco Seedling Production (ITSP) Project.
The training held on Wednesday (September 22) was facilitated by the Farm Technology and Services Department (FTSD), in coordination with the Office of the Deputy Administrator for Operations.
According to acting Deputy Administrator for Operations Engr. Cesario G. Sambrana, the training ensures efficient implementation of the project as it gives refresher course for the Operations staff to review the fundamentals on seedling production.
The extension workers who attended the virtual training will then form the pool of trainers in their respective branch offices to assist qualified tobacco seedling growers (TSGs).
Under the ITSP, now on its third year of implementation, the agency provides P20 million worth of production assistance to 250 TSGs to produce sufficient tobacco seedlings of good, uniform, strong and healthy quality.
The TSGs from the six Branch Offices in Region 1 and Abra are expected to produce a total of 30 million seedlings, based on a 6-hectare module. The seedlings will be bought by the agency and given free to farmer-cooperators of the block farm projects.
Last, year the agency were able to produce about 19 million seedlings from 161 qualified tobacco seedling growers.
Edgar C. Torres, Tobacco Production and Regulation Officer of NTA Candon, presented the package of technology in a pre-recorded ITSP project presentation. FTSD officer-in-charge Felisa R. Aurellano and Randy I. Abella, Supervising Science Research Specialist, presented the project rationale and the implementing guidelines, respectively.
La Union Branch Manager Dr. Giovanni B. Palabay served as moderator during the open forum held after the presentation and message by Director Teofilo R. Quintal of the NTA Governing Board.