DA, NTA laud PMPh agro project

The Department of Agriculture and the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) have endorsed Philip Morris Philippines Inc.’s (PMPh) Tobacco Identity Preservation Program – worldwide agronomy program aimed at maintaining the quality of tobacco produce.

During a recent presentation at the NTA office in Quezon City, agriculture and tobacco officials expressed eagerness to learn more about Philip Morris’ technology in preserving the quality and the identity of the tobacco before it becomes a finished consumer product.

PMPh officials made the presentation before Agriculture Secretary Leandro Montemayor and NTA Administrator Carlitos Encarnacion.

The identity preservation program mainly involves the traceability of tobacco – from seed, seedlings, buying stations, stemmery, until it is blended to become a cigarette. The names of the farmers are also catalogued for identification and traceability purposes.

This is to protect against unwanted foreign matter, either organic or inorganic, being mixed with fine tobacco.

Up to 300,000 samples from the Philippines are sent to Philip Morris International’s state-of-the-art laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland every year for testing.

PMPh is currently intensifying its agronomy programs together with suppliers in the tobacco-growing provinces of La Union, Ilocos Sur, Isabela and Pangasinan as well as in Mindanao.

This program also involves the implementation of good agriculture practices such as the correct use of crop protection agents, seed integrity, fertilization techniques, timely irrigation methods, soil cultivation, reforestation and curing management.

The PMPh agronomy team is also working with the farmers to eliminate the use of jute sacks and other materials to reduce packaging costs, foreign matter contamination and improve leaf presentation in an environmentally friendly manner.