Administrator Carlitos Encarnacion, head of the National Tobacco Administration (NTA), told on Friday that all fishpond - owners nationwide are in need of a total of 434 million kilograms of tobacco dust for two cycles of fish production in a year.
The statistic was based from the study conducted by the agencys scientists and researchers after the successful pilot testing of tobacco dust application in the 12 fishpond sites in Paombong, Bulacan last year.
Regions 3 and 6 alone need 250 million kilos, Encarnacion said.
According to Encarnacion, the use of the tobacco dust in the fish production is more economical and free from environmental hazard since it is an organic material.
Our fish farmer cooperators in our pilot projects has saved P28,000 per hectare per cycle with the use of tobacco dust. They (fish farmers) also evaded the health hazards arising from the use of cyanide-based and toxic chemical inputs, he added.
With the great demand of the tobacco dust, the NTA is pushing the national government for the establishment of a tobacco dusts production plant, in which the machine will churn out dust materials made from ground tobacco leaves.
Our agency along with the Agriculture department chaired by Secretary Domingo Panganiban has already submitted a P223-million budget proposal to operationalize the project with the establishment of a plant, he said.
The immediate realization on the tobacco dust production project will support the Goals 1 and 2 of the agenda of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo by extending sufficient food for the farmers through increasing economic productivity and creating more job opportunities.
Source: Philippine Information Agency (PIA) - 23rd May 2006
Fish farm demand for tobacco dust sustains RP tobacco industry
PHILIPPINES - The breakthrough on tobacco dust as efficient snail-killing molluscicide for use in fishponds and eventually as fertilizer for the growth of lablab or algae, a nutritious food for fishes has proven the tobacco plants usefulness from its other uses aside from cigarette making.
Fish farm demand for tobacco dust sustains RP tobacco industry - PHILIPPINES - The breakthrough on tobacco dust as efficient snail-killing molluscicide for use in fishponds and eventually as fertilizer for the growth of lablab or algae, a nutritious food for fishes has proven the tobacco plants usefulness from its other uses aside from cigarette making.