All’s well for tobacco farmers

VIGAN CITY — The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) said tobacco farmers can now rest easy as a large tobacco buyer firm has committed to buy all the production of its farmer cooperators in the virginia tobacco producing provinces as well as others in the market.

Upon the intercession of former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, top level management of Fortune Tobacco Corp. gave assurance that the company will continue to buy all grades of virginia tobacco including so-called "rejects", NTA Administrator said.

The tobacco agency brokered a series of meetings between large tobacco companies and farmers following reports that buyers have been offering to buy only the higher grade tobacco leaves, leaving the lower grades and so-called rejects, which comprise the greater part of the farmers’ harvest, without any market.

Encarnacion said Fortune made the commitment through its vice president, Frank Tan.

"Fortune will buy all grades of leaf tobacco, including rejects," Encarnacion said, adding "this will insure a good income for our farmers this season."

If anything, Encarnacion said this development will spur NTA to be unyielding in its effort to provide technology and production assistance to tobacco growers to enhance the quality of tobacco produce.

He said NTA branch offices in the provinces will be mobilized to educate the farmers so they will gain the knowledge to reduce if not eliminate low grade yields.