The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) is tightening its production strategy for the 2026–2027 planting season to prevent another oversupply of tobacco leaves.
The agency is urging farmers to align production with market demand and encouraging uncontracted growers to join its Tobacco Contract Growing System.
NTA Administrator Belinda Sanchez said stricter compliance and a focus on premium-quality tobacco would help protect farmers from financial losses amid a volatile global market.
The move follows a five-million-kilo surplus of flue-cured Virginia tobacco last season, which exceeded buyers’ purchase commitments by 27 percent.
The NTA is also promoting soil-area matching guidelines to improve tobacco quality and better meet market requirements.
Source: PhilNews24 | July 20, 2026
