SMC to develop 30,000 hectares for sorghum production

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Foods, Inc., (SMFI) the agribusiness arm of conglomerate San Miguel Corp., is developing up to 30,000 hectares of land to increase sorghum production in the country.

Under its Sorghum Assembler Program, SMFI will partner with assembler-farmers in select areas nationwide to boost production of sorghum, an alternative feed ingredient for its animal feeds business.

The project, launched recently in Central Luzon, has 20 assembler groups that now account for the initial target of 400 hectares for the current cropping season. The project is estimated to reach its target in five years.

SMFI Agribusiness Development and Operations Group assistant vice-president and manager Leopoldo S. Titular, said: “We are committed to this long-term partnership with our sorghum assemblers and are honored to be their partners in countryside development. Sorghum is an important alternative to corn and cassava as strategic raw materials for our feeds business. As such, we consider our assemblers an integral part of our operations.”

Under the agreement, SMFI will provide seeds and technical expertise to assembler-farmers and guarantee purchase of their crops at pre-agreed prices.  

The company has tapped Allied Botanical Corp. (ABC) as its partner in providing farmers with quality sorghum hybrid seeds and technical assistance.