Tobacco farmers to hold summit in Ilocos Norte

BATAC, Ilocos Norte – Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr. and Quedancor president Nelson Buenaflor will head the guests in the Tobacco Farmers’ Summit conference that will be held here Monday.

The summit, organized by the Philippine Association of Tobacco-Based Cooperatives (PATCO) and Federation of Free Farmers (FFF), comes at a time when tobacco farming is at a new low.

The last crop season was a financial disaster for farmers. Much of their leaf harvests were disregarded with traders and cigarette manufacturing companies claiming the produce had high chlorine content.

PATCO president Carlos Cachola, however, charged that buyers had low purchases because they allegedly resorted to massive leaft importations from China which he said was facilitated by the country’s membership in the World Trade Organization.

Cachola thanked Lorenzo and Buenaflor for their efforts to save the industry as he disclosed that the two officials have recently committed to provide substantial funds as production assistance for the incoming tobacco season.

The one-day summit will also be graced by Presidential adviser for Northern Luzon Luis "Chavit" Singson, former Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor, FFF president and National Tobacco Administration chief Bert Illorin.

Former Ilocos Sur governor, Singson whose province produces the biggest volume of Virginia tobacco had earlier pledged his all-out support for the industry. While serving as congressman (1988-1992), he authored R.A. 7171 that plows back 15 percent of cigarette tax revenues ot Virginia producing povinces annually.

Among the summit’s objectives is the appeal of farmers for the government to enlist the cooperation of cigarette manufacturers to limit their importation of leaf tobacco and other tobacco products.

PATCO is also asking that protection or safety nets be provided by the government while it is asking farmers to produce quality tobacco through proper technology and zonification.