Pilmico Foods Corporation, the food and agribusiness subsidiary of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., has partnered with a local farmers cooperative for an inclusive sourcing project for corn – a primary ingredient in producing animal feeds products.

Under the program, Pilmico will directly source corn from the Mantibugao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers Cooperative (MARBFC), a farmers’ cooperative organized in Mantibugao, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. MARBFC actively pursues various projects and ventures to assists its 300 members gain access to improved production resources, facilities and livelihood opportunities. The beneficiary cooperative was selected through the support of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Corn Program Team and the Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon local government unit (LGU).

The partnership was formalized during a ceremonial Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signing held recently at Cagayan de Oro City, witnessed by Manolo Fortich Mayor Clive Quiño and DA Region 10 Director Carlene Collado.

This is the first time Pilmico, which has been producing high quality animal feeds products for more than twenty years, has ventured in an inclusive sourcing program with a local farmers group.

MARBFC, will serve a portion of Pilmico’s corn requirements for its various feeds products. Collado, in his remarks, said the project is in line with the DA’s strategy in “providing livelihood opportunities and technical assistance with the hope of improving lives of farmers associations and cooperatives”.

MARBFC Chairman Benjamin Magtajas expressed his gratitude to Pilmico, DA, and the Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon LGU: “The day that we have been waiting for has come, we thank the hard work of the Department of Agriculture, our mayor and to Pilmico for initiating the inclusive sourcing project for corn. That is the first time that we can actually can go directly to the big companies and sell our produce. Dream come true na mapatud-an sa mga farmers na kaya namo mo direkta sa mga dagko na mga kumpanya parehas sa Pilmico. (It’s a dream come true for us farmers, that starting today, we are able to work with big companies like Pilmico.)”

Meanwhile, Pilmico Chief Operating Officer Tristan S. Aboitiz, said Pilmico will continue to collaborate with the LGU and communities to promote the agriculture industry, ultimately advancing business and communities. “Our partnership with the Mantibugao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers Cooperative is a culmination of the hard work of our partners from the DA, the local government of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon and most importantly, MARBFC. I am honored that Pilmico is a part of this pioneer project and we hope that the successful roll-out will serve as an example for more of these kinds of partnerships in the future.”