New tobacco floor prices approved in tripartite forum

By Freddie G. Lazaro

CANDON CITY , Ilocos Sur – The local tobacco industry received a huge boost following the approval in the increase of floor prices of all-types of tobacco being produced in the country in a tripartite conference initiated by the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) held at its Central Office in Quezon City last Tuesday.

The conference, which is hosted by the NTA every two years, was attended by tobacco farmer-leaders, traders, cigarette manufacturers and stakeholders to discuss the agreed and appropriate prices of tobacco in coping up with the unabated increase of prices of farm inputs.

NTA Administrator Edgar D. Zaragoza said the tripartite forum was realized to have a “win-win” situation in deciding the relevant floor prices of the locally – produced tobacco that would let the farmers to earn better income.

He said the newly-approved floor prices for all types of tobacco being produced in the country will be applicable for calendar years 2016 and 2017.

The newly-approved floor prices for flue-cured Virginia tobacco (neutral –type) were the following: Grades AA – P81.00 per kilo; A – P79/kilo; B-P77/kilo; C-P75/kilo; D – P68/kilo; E-P67/kilo; F1-P59/kilo;F2-P56/kilo and Reject – P46/kilo.

The old – floor prices of the flue- cured Virginia tobacco (neutral –type) were: AA-P78/kilo; A – P75/kilo; B-P73/kilo; C-P71/kilo; D – P66/kilo; E-P65/kilo; F1-P59/kilo;F2-P56/kilo and Reject – P46/kilo.

For Burley – type tobacco, the new approved floor prices were Grades A –P67/kilo; B-P65/kilo;  C-P56/kilo; D – P45/kilo; E – P44/kilo; F-P37/kilo; and Reject – P28/kilo. Its old floor prices were Grades A –P61/kilo; B-P59/kilo;  C-P53/kilo; D – P45/kilo; E – P44/kilo; F-P37/kilo; and Reject – P28/kilo.

Meanwhile, the new floor prices of the native – type tobacco were High – Grade – P70/kilo; Medium 1 – P58/kilo; Medium 2 – P48/kilo; Low 1 – P40/kilo; and Low 2 – P28/kilo. The old floor prices of tobacco were High – Grade – P66/kilo; Medium 1 – P56/kilo; Medium 2 – P46/kilo; Low 1 – P38/kilo; and Low 2 – P26/kilo.