MANILA, Philippines — Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. has ramped up its purchase of surplus corn, buying 69 million kilograms to date in a bid to help local farmers and ensure stable food supply.
SMC unit San Miguel Foods Inc. increased its sourcing of corn and other agricultural outputs to help farmers who are unable to move their produce due to the enhanced community quarantine that has also affected food production and distribution.
Its latest purchase included 92,000 kilograms of corn from farmer-cooperatives in Central Luzon and Pangasinan as identified by the Department of Agriculture.
Another 150,000 kilos of corn will come from Camarines Sur in the next few weeks.
The prompt release of payments for purchases will provide a steady source of income for farmers.
SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said the firm would purchase more corn from farmers especially in many corn-producing regions in the country.
Apart from corn, SMC has also called on farmers of rice, cassava, coconut oil, and other farm products.
“The farmers are at the core of our food production and they are even more essential and vital during this pandemic. We encourage more to come forward and help us secure the needed ingredients and raw materials for our food production,” Ang said.
Under its agreement with the DA, SMC will purchase four million kilos of surplus corn that will be enough to produce feeds for over seven million live broilers, that can eventually feed four million families in one day.
As part of its agreement, Petron gas stations in Metro Manila are also being utilized as outlets for farmers’ produce through the agency’s Kadiwa rolling store program.
The initiative has made fruits and vegetables accessible to consumers at reasonable prices and provided additional distribution channels and a ready market for local farmers.
SMC has assured a stable food supply for at least six months even beyond the enhanced community quarantine with the 24/7 operation of its food facilities.
SMC’s food facilities can produce a daily output of 1.96 million kilograms of fresh meats, 524,000 kilos of processed meats, and 2.11 million kilos of flour and baked goods.