NTA sees 14% hike in tobacco production

MANILA, Philippines - The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) is projecting a 14-percent increase in tobacco production this year to 60 million kilos from last year’s output of 54 million kilos, the agency’s corporate planning manager Rex Antonio Teoxon said. 

In an interview with The STAR, Teoxon pointed out that tobacco production is not affected by drought since it is a dry season crop.

He said there is plenty of room for growth for Philippine tobacco as  in the past, tobacco production reached as high as 80 million kilos. 

Teoxon, in a recent briefing to the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) Agribusiness and Countryside Development Foundation, also revealed that aside from tobacco production for cigars and cigarettes, the NTA has embarked on research and development for other alternative applications especially for inferior quality tobacco plants. 

The NTA has already commercialized two applications – one for tobacco dust as an organic fertilizer and molluscicide,  and the other using tobacco stalks for the production of paper products. 

Other applications still under research and development include the use of tobacco as an organic pesticide; as an alternative raw material for the production of biofuel and for pharmaceutical applications. 

The NTA has already commercialized the use of  tobacco dust plus (TDP) as an organic fertilizer and molluscicide.

According to the NTA, TDP is used as a organic pesticide in fishponds to control snails and other predators,  and to promote growth of algae (lablab) as natural food for the fish. 

The NTA’s TDP, Teoxon said, already has the approval from the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA).

There is an existing TDP processing plant in Brgy. Fernando, Sto. Tomas, La Union.

Aside from TDP, the NTA has also successfully commercialized the use of tobacco stalks for the manufacture of handmade paper and paper products such as gift bags, wrapping paper and even picture frames. 

Teoxon said, the NTA is already producing such products for some companies which he however, refused to name due to a confidentiality clause in their contracts. 

Teoxon pointed out that the development of tobacco  pulp for paper products reduces the need to cut trees for pulp and paper making. 

He said tobacco plants, Teoxon said, is a more renewable source for paper products.

Still in the research and development stage are the use of tobacco as an organic pesticide for fruits and vegetables. 

Research is also being done on the production of ethanol – either as a biofuel or even in the form of ethanol alcohol – from tobacco.

Additionally, the NTA is also studying other applications from tobacco for pharmaceutical products such as  pediculicide, liniments and soap; and even as veterinary products such as  animal shampoo and soap.