Other products being made from tobacco stalks, leaves

STO. TOMAS, La Union, Philippines — The commercial production of handmade paper, tobacco extracts, and handicrafts which can be obtained from tobacco is set to start and is expected to revolutionize the northern region’s tobacco industry.

Deputy National Security Adviser Luis “Chavit” Singson bared this development here Friday where he was the guest of honor during the celebration of the 22nd anniversary of the National Tobacco Administration (NTA).

The three by-products along with ethanol and others that are undergoing further laboratoy tests were developed by NTA researchers from tobacco stalks and low-grade tobacco leaves.

NTA Administrator Carlitos Encarnacion said that his agency had developed tobacco virgin pulp that is used in the manufacture of paper. Tobacco extracts were found effective against mango hoppers that attack mango fruits and sucking insects infesting cabbages and other vegetables, he said.

In his speech delivered for him by North Luzon Growth Quadrangle Commission (Northquad) executive director Hermenegildo Dumlao, Singson disclosed that a tobacco pulp processing plant will be established in Santa, Ilocos Sur within the next two months.

The plant will process pulp from stalks which are traditionally left abandoned in the tobacco fields after harvest.

The former Ilocos Sur governor has provided a one-hectare land for the plant.

He expressed optimism that the pulp-making project and similar projects for other non-traditional products from tobacco will generate more income for the farmers and enhance the relevance of the crop amidst the continuing campaign against tobacco.

The celebration here was highlighted by the inauguration of a newly-established building housing the tobacco dust processing plant, a pioneering NTA venture. The plant is considered as the first in the country. Philppine Aromatic Tobacco Dealers’ Association president Winston Uy, Encarnacion, Dumlao and local officials led guests and NTA executives in the ribbon-cutting rites.

It was learned that tobacco dust is efficient as a mollusicide to wipe out snails and other pests that inhabit fishponds. Processed from low grade tobacco leaves, the dust product also acts as a fertilizer for the growth of ‘lablab’ , a fish nutrient found in fishponds.

Ethanol, another product discovery from tobacco stalks is also being developed. The NTA chief demonstrated the alcohol-content of the product by igniting a small supply which erupted into a long lasting bluish-colorless flame.

Earlier, Encarnacion made a similar presentation of the product to Singson in Quezon City. Chavit exhibited interest in the NTA discovery and asked the administrator to ensure that enough ethanol supply can be taken from tobacco saying this would redound to the country’s interest. He cited the importance of ethanol as a source of biofuel.