SMC launches corn, cassava program

San Miguel Corp. (SMC) launched recently a corn and cassava program in the Central Visayas as part of its countrywide agriculture-based initiative to engage farmers in contract growing activities.

The program, which calls for harnessing at least one million hectares of farmlands across the countryside primarily for cassava and corn, was formally introduced in the Visayas region last March 5 at the Cebu Grand Hotel in Cebu City.

In line with this, local government units in the Central Visayas Region signed memorandum of understanding and agreement with the farmers’ cooperative, Cebu Kawayan Multi-purpose Cooperative, to firm up their participation in the SMC program. The Cebu-based cooperative will be the one coordinating the buying of the corn and cassava in the area.

Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo, Quedancor president Nelson Buenaflor, Cebu Governor Pablo Garcia and local government representatives from the provinces of Biliran, Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental graced the event.

SMC has aggressively pushed for the project since last year as it is expected to create jobs and various livelihood opportunities in farmer communities across the countryside. Under the program, SMC will act as a long-term buyer for the cassava and corn harvest of contract farmers. As such, farmers will be assured of a guaranteed market and stable prices for their output.

SMC will use the crops to supply its various raw material requirements for its feed mills and distilleries.

The company will also tap the services of warehouses and transport contractors, such as truckers, bargers, trampers and shippers, to store and transport these raw materials to SMC plants and facilities across the country.

The program is part of SMC’s corporate social responsibility, which is estimated to generate billions of pesos in annual national revenues and foreign exchange savings.