Farmers get production boost from Mighty Corp

The National Federation of Tobacco Farmers Association and Cooperatives (NAFTAC) welcomes with open arms the good news from Mighty Corporation or Mighty Corp, the only fully Filipino-owned cigarette manufacturer in the country, that it would double its purchase of tobacco from five million to 10 million kilos this year.

NAFTAC President Mario Cabasal said, “The announcement of Mighty Corp is expected to
break the farmers’ dependence on giant tobacco companies, who enter into contract with farmers to make them plant high nicotine varieties. This will also boost the income of local farmers.”

Mighty Corp, the Bulacan-based tobacco company owned by the Wongchuking family, produces low-priced brand of cigarettes, which are popular among the masses. The company provided farmers 83 units of water pumps and 16 hand tractors aside from the 100 college scholarship for children of
tobacco farmers in La Union that it sponsored as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs.

The said programs are part of the initiatives of Mighty Corp as it promotes uplifting the lives of tobacco farmers and their families. The company recently signed a partnership agreement with 200 farmers leaders at the Hotel Ariana in Bauang, La Union.

National Tobacco Administration (NTA) Administrator Edgardo Zaragosa welcomed the entry of Mighty Corp in the local tobacco market and sees it good because competition in tobacco trading will help farmers, especially if the price is right. He also added, “If Mighty is absent, we will be having problems selling tobacco.”

Mighty Executive Vice President and spokesperson Oscar Barrientos explained that the increase of volume of their orders of raw products is a step made by their company as they  compete with the giant tobacco companies in the purchase of tobacco, which they needed as cigarette filler.