Tobacco farmers prodded on quality

TANAUAN CITY — US tobacco giant Philip Morris Phils. Manufacturing Inc. (PMPMI) assured Filipino tobacco farmers that they will have a market for their produce as long as they meet the industry’s quality standard.

Chris Nelson, PMPMI managing director, told a press briefing here that about 600 metric tons of burley tobacco from Isabela worth P95 million have already been exported to Philip Morris plants in the United States, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Malaysia and Australia.

"If other developing countries can produce good, quality tobacco, there is no reason why Filipino farmers cannot do the same," Helson said.

The PMPMI and other tobacco manufacturers earlier assured the Philippine Tobacco Institute that it would continue to support local tobacco farmers.

Lancaster Phils., PMPMI’s agronomist and leaf buyer, also assured local tobacco farmers of continued financial assistance and technical support to maintain the competitiveness of locally produced tobacco.

Meanwhile, PMPMI gave awards to five outstanding Isabela and Cagayan tobacco farmers whose produce it cited for having the finest quality, weight and yield and for carrying out good agricultural practices.

The five were Jojo Alejo, Rufino Ramos and Artemio Zalun, all of Isabela; and Vicente Saquing and Perlito Bautista, both of Cagayan.

"Philip Morris will continue to increase its market share globally with the joint efforts of our people, which we are very proud of," Nelson said.