The Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc. (PAFMI) said its member-companies have bought some 133,500 metric tons of corn from local farmers as part of its commitment to purchase more raw materials locally.
In a statement on Tuesday, PAFMI said they procured the corn from farmers in Isabela, Bukidnon, General Santos, Iloilo, and Davao, among others, encouraged by recent bump harvest and good quality of the cropping season’s produce.
“Some 17 members of PAFMI reported purchasing the corn in August and September this year. August and September are peak harvest months for the wet-season corn crop,” PAFMI President Nicole Sarmiento-Garcia said.
PAFMI is the biggest organization of feed millers in the country, comprising 33 member-companies spread nationwide.
Garcia said PAFMi is set to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Agriculture (MOA) for corn and soybeans contract growing in select provinces.
“Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William D. Dar is encouraging the feed milling industry to buy more local corn as an incentive for farmers to produce more of the feed stuff,” she said.
“The MOA seeks to assure local farmers of a market for their produce, with technical assistance from DA and PAFMI providing the market,” she added.
PAFMI said its member-companies have bought about 54,500 MT of corn from Isabela, 6,480 MT from Bukidnon, 3,000 MT from General Santos City, and 3,000 MT from Davao.
Some companies reported purchases totaling 54,300 mt from an undisclosed provincial source due to reasons of competition.
While deliveries in Luzon are going on relatively unhampered, distribution in Visayas and Mindanao are experiencing weather-caused delays,” Garcia said.
“Frequent rains have slowed down deliveries and some corn stocks have been exposed to moisture, causing quality concerns. Rains and thunderstorms are expected in Northern Mindanao, including Bukidnon Province in the next 14 days,” she added.
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