Tobacco farmers get P20-million aid for palay crop cultivation

BANGUED, Abra (Manila Bulletin) National Tobacco Administration (NTA) chief Edgardo D. Zaragoza has distributed P20 million to thousands of tobacco farmers as capital for their palay [rice] crop cultivation in order to provide them with alternative sources of livelihood during the lean months of tobacco production.
A total of 1,484 tobacco farmers from the provinces of Abra, La Union, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Mindoro who are ready to plant palay in around 1,242 hectares benefited from the soft loan program of the NTA which is geared towards enhancing the productivity of farmers not only on tobacco production but also in terms of rice production.
Under the program, NTA provides a loan of P18, 000 per hectare per farmer who plants palay, and P30,000 to P40,000 per farmer per hectare for those who plant tobacco which is substantial in allowing the farmers to be able to produce the crops that will be in time for the harvest season where the prices of the crops are at high levels. Continued