The National Federation of Tobacco Farmers Association and Cooperatives (NAFTAC) welcomed with open arms the announcement of Mighty Corporation or Mighty Corp of its plans to double its purchase of tobacco from five million to 10 million kilos this year.
NAFTAC President Mario Cabasal said that this good news from Mighty Corp, the only fully Filipino-owned cigarette company, is expected to break the farmers’ dependence on giant tobacco companies as it boosts the income of tobacco farmers in the country.
Cabasal added that local farmers now have a buyer for low-grade tobacco because of the commitment of Mighty Corp that produces low-priced brand of cigarettes, which are popular among the masses.
Aside from the production boost, NAFTAC also receives other support from Mighty Corp which donated 83 units of water pumps and 16 hand tractors and provided college scholarship grants to 100 children of tobacco farmers in Luzon as indicated in partnership agreement signed at Hotel Ariana in Bauang, La Union recently.
Mighty Corp Executive Vice President and spokesperson Oscar Barrientos said, “The company will compete with the giant tobacco companies in the purchase of tobacco, which we need as cigarette filler.”
National Tobacco Administration (NTA) Administrator Edgardo Zaragosa sees the entry of Mighty Corp in the local tobacco industry as a great news and pointed out, “This is good because competition in tobacco trading will help farmers, especially if the price is right. If Mighty is absent, we will be having problems selling tobacco.”
0 Comments