The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) launched the Gulayan at Manukan sa Barangay (GMB) project, benefiting 2,224 tobacco farmers nationwide in 2024 to enhance farmers’ livelihoods and boost rural incomes.
NTA administrator and chief executive Belinda Sanchez said the project aimed to provide additional income sources for farmers while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
With a total allocation of P16.6 million, the project is being implemented across eight NTA branch offices, with each office supporting 278 farmer-beneficiaries.
Eligibility is limited to those registered under the Tobacco Contract Growing System (TCGS) program and in good standing.
The GMB project aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “Food for All Projects”, which prioritize increased agricultural productivity, lower food costs, and modernized farming approaches.
By empowering farmers to grow their own food and diversify income sources, the program ensures better food availability, accessibility, and affordability while supporting rural development.
The GMB program includes two major components.
The “gulayan” or vegetable farming wherein farmers cultivate a variety of local vegetables while the government provides inputs like seeds, fertilizers, and crop protection agents for free.
The “manukan” or chicken farming provides an opportunity for farmers to raise broiler chickens, with government support, as an additional income stream.
Agriculture Undersecretary Deogracias Victor Savellano proposed establishing a multiplier farm to hatch free-range chicks for distribution to beneficiaries to further strengthen the program.
“We also need to boost our technical and other support assistance to the GMB beneficiaries for the increase of the quality production on high-value commercial (HVC) vegetables for local consumption and exports,” he said.
The NTA branch offices will oversee the procurement and distribution of inputs and assist farmer recipients in marketing their produce.
