PHILIPPINES
The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) appealed to all tobacco growers to sell their products only to licensed traders to ensure fair market price.
According to NTA officer-in-charge, Luzviminda Padayao, there are at least two NTA-licensed buying stations located in Batac City and in Currimao town, where farmers can offer their goods.
“We have no control over cowboys/traders who are going to villages to buy tobacco leaves,” said Padayao. “These NTA-licensed buying stations are being monitored through the use of prescribed trading forms such as purchase invoice vouchers (PIVs) and certificate of purchase,” she said.
Genaro dela Cruz, representing the Alyansa Dagiti Mannalon iti Ilocos Norte, said the price should increase up to PHP128 per kilogram as a result of the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, which has affected much their production cost. Current tobacco prices range from PHP60 to PHP75 per kilogram .
According to the Farm and Technology Services Department of NTA, tobacco growers can earn an average of PHP70,000 net income per hectare should they enter into a contract-growing scheme backed by the local government.