The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) has initiated a PHP16.6 million project named ‘Gulayan at Manukan sa Barangay’ (GMB), aimed at supporting 2,224 tobacco farmers nationwide. The launch took place at the NTA Tobacco Farmers’ Training Building in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, where Gilbert Taguiam, the Cagayan Branch Manager of NTA, showcased the distribution of vegetable seeds and day-old chicks.
This project aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s efforts to enhance local agricultural and fishery productivity while reducing food costs. According to NTA Administrator and CEO Belinda Sanchez, the GMB project is designed to offer an additional source of income and improve food security for tobacco farmers.
The initiative will be implemented across eight regions, with each area supporting at least 278 farmer-beneficiaries. Under the ‘Gulayan’ component, farmers will receive free ‘pinakbet’ vegetable seeds, fertilizers, and crop protection agents. The ‘Manukan’ segment will provide broiler chickens to farmer cooperators.
The NTA is responsible for managing the procurement of inputs and the marketing of the products. This program not only aims to diversify the income streams of tobacco farmers but also to ensure they have better access to food resources.