National Tobacco Administration (NTA) has allocated around PHP17 million as cash aid for the 2,834 marginalized tobacco growers from Ilocos Norte this year.

At least 160 beneficiaries from the towns of Pinili, Batac, and Badoc received their respective PHP6,000 grant on Thursday. The next distribution is set on Friday, and will run until all the target recipients have received their cash assistance.

“For the first time, we are giving this production grant to our marginalized farmers, who are tilling 0.5 hectare farm lot and below to reduce their production cost in producing quality tobacco leaves,” he said.

The production assistance will cover the cost of fertilizers, crop protection agents, seedlings, suckercides, land preparation, gas and oil, fuelwood, and labor.

Under Republic Act (RA) 7171 (for Virginia) and RA 8240 (for Burley and Native), tobacco-growing provinces and municipalities collect their share from tobacco excise tax collections based on the volume of leaves produced by their local tobacco growers.

To augment the farmers’ income, NTA also provides assistance for rice production, improved tobacco seedlings production, and beef cattle production. (PNA)