No cyanide in tobacco, says NTA

The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) took exception to unfounded claims that tobacco contains cyanide and DDT substances as its top official reported that tobacco dust has been validated to be effective for use as pesticide in fishponds.

NTA Administrator Carlitos Encarnacion made the rejoinder in the wake of a news report that an NGO officer has expressed caution on the use of tobacco as pesticide because the plant allegedly has DDT and cyanide.

"Tests revealed that tobacco has no cyanide or DDT as claimed by an NGO officer," Encarnacion told newsmen.

He also said that as an added safety measure, the NTA will produce tobacco dust or ground tobacco with its nicotine content standardized to safe levels of one percent to 1.2 percent.

The agency has been in the forefront of development efforts working on the other uses of the plant and has been successful in producing dust from tobacco leaves for use as mollucuscide in fishponds.

The other NTA project involves the production of pulp from tobacco stalks for the manufacture of paper.

The twin projects have been declared as major breakthroughs by Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban, Environment Secretary Michael Defensor, and Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson.

The NTA chief said that the dust materials were pilot-tested in Paombong, Bulacan by the NTA along with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Department of Science and Technology.

"The result was very encouraging with the tobacco dust proving itself as an effective molluciscide cum fertilizer," Encarnacion said. He is now eyeing the dust’s widespread use in Central Luzon and Ilocos fishponds.

He said the agency is now sourcing out funds from tobacco excise tax revenues for the purchase of equipment and factory facilities that are needed for dust and pulp production citing R.A. 4155, a law enacted in the l960s, as basis for his fund campaign.

He also said that both projects will boost the income of tobacco farmers and "help achieve President Arroyo’s vision of making farmers more empowered."