DA, San Miguel forge PPP deal to help PH farmers
San Miguel Foods Inc. and the Department of Agriculture (DA) are working together on their first nationwide public-private partnership (PPP) aimed at linking farmers to buyers, improving supply chains and providing consumers better access to agriculture products.
In a statement on Friday, the food manufacturing unit of San Miguel Corp. said they had signed a memorandum of understanding with the government agency to “improve Filipino farmers’ incomes, boost food security and bring quality food to more Filipinos.”
The parties are set to put up buying stations for key crops like corn, cassava, sorghum and soy beans. The goal is to bridge the farmers to institutional buyers to ensure fair market for their produce.
San Miguel chair Ramon Ang said this partnership allows them to “invest directly in our farmers and the future of Philippine agriculture.”
“By offering fair prices and consistent support, we help farmers improve their livelihoods and make agriculture a more sustainable and rewarding industry,” the tycoon added.
San Miguel and DA are also crafting strategies to “modernize and streamline” agricultural supply chains across the archipelago as a way to keep the food staples available in the market.
The food manufacturer will also conduct training for farmer cooperatives and associations, as well as provide laboratory procedures for crop acceptance to boost farm production.
The DA, meanwhile, will share its expertise in crop monitoring and harvest volume projections.
The government agency will also work with San Miguel in its information campaigns for direct buying and community reseller programs.
“This partnership will not only benefit the farmers, but also the broader society as a whole,” DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said.
“By sourcing quality local ingredients for feed production, we can significantly reduce import costs which will in turn lower prices of meat in the market, eggs, and several other meat (products) for consumers — creating a win-win scenario for both producers and households by ensuring that only high quality raw materials are used,” he added.
