Last February 8, Filipino-owned tobacco manufacturer, Mighty Corp met at least 200 tobacco farmer leaders in Pangasinan, La Union and Ilocos provinces regarding the firm’s partnership and the twin P10-million commitments of the new major player in the cigarette industry.
According to Mighty Corporation Executive Vice President Oscar P. Barrientos says that they sought the help of the National Tobacco Administration about their planned purchase of P10-million kilograms tobacco leaves and the multi-pronged P10-million Corporate Social Responsibility for tobacco farmers and their families.
“We are grateful and we are looking forward to the firm commitments of Mighty Corporation to help the 65,000 strong tobacco farmers in the Philippines with their pronouncements this year to purchase 10-million kilograms of tobacco leaves and the P10-million outreach projects for tobacco farmers,” said Mario Cabasal, president of the National Federation of Tobacco Growers and Cooperatives.
He was surprised on Mighty Corp’s commitment to purchase 10 million kilograms of tobacco leaves.
“Now that we are assured of an alternative market, besides other tobacco companies, our members will again be inspired to devote larger areas to the cultivation of Ilocandia’s most important cash crop,” he said.
Planting of the golden leaf started on January and selling the dry leaf often peaks before the Holy Week. Then, the price cut downs on harvests after the Holy Week. Some people says that it was an old practice of middlemen from Ilocos Norte to Pangasinan.
“With Mighty’s assurance that the company will buy all the unsold tobacco harvested by farmers, we can also be sure that unlike in the past, prices will stay high even after the holiday season, Cabasal said.
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