CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — Corn farmers in northern Mindanao are expressing gratitude to the Department of Agriculture (DA)-10 for its market linkage program that connects them directly with feed millers. This initiative is creating price stability and streamlining the production cycle for farmers.
Evangeline P. Frasco, general manager of the Mantibugao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, highlighted the program’s impact on price security.
“Kung magsalig man gud ta sa mga traders, ang traders mudepende sa law of supply and demand. So, daghan ang demand, muubos ang presyo nga palit nila. Pero, with the presence of our connectivity with the feed mills, naka-establish ta og secure nga price for a period of time. So, natabangan nato ang mga farmers nga mutaas ilang income,” she shared during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on June 18.
(If we rely solely on traders, traders are dependent on the law of supply and demand. So, when there is high demand, the price they pay will decrease. However, because of our connectivity with the feed mills, we have established a secure price for a period of time. So, we have helped the farmers increase their income.)
Frasco further stated that they are currently selling corn to feed millers at P21 per kilo, significantly higher than the prevailing market price of P18 per kilo.
Dante Dosayco of Bliss Lingo-on Multi-Purpose Cooperative, also in Bukidnon, echoes the sentiment. “Pinaagi aning market linkages nga ilahang gitabang, pagpa-ila-ila kanamo diha sa mga buyer, mas mapadali dayon, mas maayo ang cycle sa production kay mas dali naman kayo namong ma-dispose ang among mga produkto,” he said.
(They are facilitating market linkages that connect us to buyers, which streamlines the production cycle by enabling us to dispose of our products more quickly.)
Scaled-up market matching program
DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Pacamalan explained that connecting corn farmers directly to feed millers is a key component of their scaled-up market-matching program. This program includes facilitating “supply-buy” dialogues between farmers and feed millers to stabilize prices and ensure a steady market for local corn.
“We are working on linking all these corn farmers to millers and feed mills so that we can get a favorable price during harvest season. We are also trying to have meetings and dialogue among these stakeholders. For example, we have decided to contact all those who are consumers of corn for feeds and oil so that we can prepare ahead of time, within a two- to three-month window, for marketing assistance,” he explained.
The program utilizes a “Big Brother, Small Brother” scheme to strengthen market connections. DA-10 facilitates the clustering and consolidation of corn farmers’ outputs through cooperatives. This creates larger, bulk quantities that are more attractive to regional feed millers.
This approach, according to DA-10, not only stabilizes market prices but also supports smaller farmers by providing access to larger markets through cooperative efforts.
Pacamalan reported that in 2023, DA-10 successfully linked five corn farmers’ cooperatives and consolidators with feed millers. The program’s continued expansion in all provinces of northern Mindanao is expected to further benefit corn farmers across the region. (APB/PIA-10)
