San Miguel Corp. plans to tap more farmers nationwide to supply raw material for its food products, help sustain incomes in the countryside and secure food supply amid the Covid-19 crisis.
“We are looking for ways to be able to tap more farmers for rice production, corn, cassava, coconut oil, pork, chicken, among others,” said SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang. “Through this, we hope to be able to support the livelihood of our farmers and secure our future supply of food,” he said.
Ang said expanding San Miguel’s reach would generate economic activity across the food value chain involving not only farmers, but a web of players from suppliers of agricultural inputs, processing facilities, shipping to retailers.
The company in recent week intensified the buying of cassava from over 17,000 farmers nationwide through 130 assemblers.
San Miguel, whose food unit San Miguel Foods Inc. is among the country’s leading producers of fresh meats, poultry, processed meats, flour, dairy products, spreads,and coffee, said it would purchase the products at guaranteed prices to benefit the farmers.