Category: Agriculture & Sustainability

Philippine Tobacco Farmers to Receive Cash

Photo: PMFTC

The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) of the Philippines is poised to distribute PHP100 million ($1.73 million) to qualified tobacco farmers nationwide, reports GMA News.
The organization has identified 16,666 tobacco farmers as recipients of the cash assistance amounting to PHP6,000 each, which will be distributed on or before Dec. 15, 2024.
The funds are intended to cover tobacco farmer-recipients’ production for cropping year 2024-2025, which began in September 2024 and will conclude by June 2025.
The NTA said the recipients were identified by the agency’s branch offices based on the guidelines set and approved by the NTA governing board.
Among the recipients are 9,055 contract growers and 7,611 are non-contract growers.
The NTA said that beneficiaries of the cash assistance must be registered tobacco farmers with the agency and are personally tilling a tobacco farm “capable of providing adequate labor to attend to all activities in quality tobacco production, able to provide basic farm tools and equipment, such as plow, harrow, sprayer, work animal, irrigation pump, and curing bar/air curing shed, and should have adequate sources of good quality irrigation water and desirable for tobacco production.”

December 5, 2024
Next Brazilian Crop Could Touch 700 Million Kg

Photo: Taco Tuinstra

The South Brazilian tobacco crop for 2024/2025 will cover 309,982 hectares, marking a 9.08 percent increase from the previous crop, reports Kohltrade, citing the Brazilian tobacco growers’ association, Afubra.
Paraná state recorded the largest growth at 13.63 percent, with 83,981 hectares planted. Santa Catarina follows with 11.78 percent, with 94,212 hectares planted and in Rio Grande do Sul, 131,789 hectares were planted, reflecting a 4.6 percent rise.
More than 138,020 families will be involved in in this year’s tobacco crop, 3.57 more than in the previous season.
“We are emerging from two very profitable harvests for many tobacco growers, leading to high profitability,” said Afubra President Marcílio Drescher. “As a result, more land is being dedicated to tobacco cultivation, with families returning to this crop. However, these developments are concerning. An increase in cultivated area during a period of stable weather could lead to higher production levels, which may negatively impact producers’ income.”
In terms of production volume, the initial estimate indicates a boost of 37.08 percent, leading to a total production of 696,435 tons in southern Brazil. This includes 630,539 tons of Virginia tobacco (36.52 percent), 54,624 tons of Burley tobacco (44.07 percent), and 11,272 tons of Common tobacco (36.45 percent).
Representatives from grower organizations and tobacco companies are currently calculating the production costs for the 2024/2025 harvest. Price negotiations are expected to commence once this assessment is completed.

November 28, 2024
ITGA Celebrates 40 Years of Representing Growers

Photo: PMFTC

The International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA) marked its 40th anniversary this week.
Established in 1984 by growers’ representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Malawi, the U.S. and Zimbabwe, the ITGA provides a unified voice to tobacco growers worldwide and offers a platform to represent their interests.
During the 1990s, ITGA expanded its membership to include many more countries from Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe, cementing its presence as a global representative of tobacco growers.
ITGA played an active role in international discussions about the tobacco industry, emphasizing the importance of balancing regulatory needs with the livelihood of farmers.
As environmental and economic pressures increased, ITGA launched initiatives promoting sustainable farming practices to help growers adapt to changing conditions and market demands.
The association actively engaged with governments and organizations, advocating for fair treatment of tobacco growers amid global anti-tobacco campaigns such as the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control that since its entry into force has dramatically influenced the tobacco regulation environment.
Ever since its foundation, ITGA has served as a unique platform to bring supply chain partners together at regional and global level. Today, ITGA gatherings are fundamental in their role to bring farmers, experts, and other stakeholders to discuss pressing issues, share knowledge, and explore innovations in sustainable agriculture.
Recognizing shifts in global demand, ITGA began encouraging research and programs to support crop diversification that could potentially benefit farmers in their search for alternative income sources.In addition, ITGA solidified its partnerships with research institutions and NGOs to provide education on sustainable agricultural methods and diversification.
The association continues to stand as a key representative in policy dialogues, advocating for a balanced approach that considers both public health goals and the economic well-being of growers.
As ITGA celebrates its 40-year milestone, the organization remains committed to championing tobacco growers’ needs, exploring sustainable solutions, and promoting economic security for farming communities worldwide.
“I encourage ITGA Members to act as a unified body and carry on the legacy of these 40 years of history that were fundamental to maintain our independent global association raising tobacco farmers voices,” said ITGA President José Javier Aranda.

November 28, 2024