TOBACCO leaf cultivation surged by 7.45% to 45.4 million kilograms in 2024, fueled by export prospects and encouragement from local authorities, as stated by the National Tobacco Administration (NTA).
On Monday, NTA Deputy Administrator Nestor C. Casela noted that this rise in output was coupled with a decline in purchasing prices for leaf tobacco, dropping to P129.04 per kilogram in 2024 from the P137.32 per kilo average reported in 2023.
“Our tobacco has gained competitiveness in global markets. Furthermore, local government units are receiving a larger portion of tobacco taxes; as a result, they are highly motivated to promote planting among their farmers,” Mr. Casela informed journalists during the International Tobacco Summit.
He mentioned that China, the leading tobacco producer, has decreased its production, allowing more Philippine tobacco to penetrate the international market.
Virginia tobacco production increased to 16.79 million kilos from 14.77 million, Native tobacco production rose to 20.98 million kilos from 20.59 million, while Burley tobacco output climbed to 7.63 million kilos from 6.89 million.
Philippine Tobacco Growers Association President Saturnino Distor also linked the production growth to corn farmers transitioning to tobacco.
“Corn farmers are experiencing difficulties due to fall army worms,” Mr. Distor remarked on the margins of the summit.
Fall army worms are known to feed on over 80 different crop species, including corn, rice, sorghum, and various vegetables.
The NTA also disclosed that the count of tobacco farmers in 2024 increased to 43,098 from 40,786 recorded the previous year.
The area cultivated with tobacco expanded to 25,926 hectares, up from 25,309 hectares in the prior year.
For 2025, the NTA aims to reach an output of 45.58 million kilos, which would signify a 0.4% increase over 2024 if achieved.
Mr. Distor expressed confidence that the production target for the year will likely be accomplished due to improved climatic conditions compared to 2024, during which the nation faced the effects of El Niño and La Niña. — Adrian H. Halili
