Tobacco Farmers In The North Start Getting Cattle

November 22, 2020 JUST IN

BAGUIO CITY (November 22, 2020) – Tobacco farmers have started to get beef cattle from the National Tobacco Administration’s Beef Cattle Production Assistance Project (BCPAP).

At least 85 heads were distributed this week — 35 in Abra, and 25 each in Ilocos Sur (1st District) and Pangasinan (including Tarlac).

The dispersal of ready-to-breed upgraded Brahman heifers is part of the livestock component of the agency’s five-year industry development plan, or the Sustainable Tobacco Enhancement Program (STEP), to increase productivity and farmers’ income.

NTA is set to distribute 250 beef cattle to selected farmer-cooperators under its Tobacco Contract Growing System (TCGS) project for its initial implementation.

NTA branches have earlier conducted beef cattle production trainings to project implementers and the farmer beneficiaries.

NTA Administrator Robert Victor Seares Jr. said that the beef cattle project will help jumpstart the beef cattle industry in the tobacco growing provinces. Likewise, it will also forward the vision of the agriculture department towards the country’s food sufficiency.

Beef cattle will be distributed in the next few weeks to tobacco farmer beneficiaries in Ilocos Norte, 2nd District of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Cagayan and Isabela.

Artemio A. Dumlao