LAUNCHED in October 2021, the yellow corn project is a six-month inclusive business pilot project by Cargill Philippines and Save the Children Philippines that provides training on good agricultural practices, farming inputs, post-harvest support, and integration of farmers directly into the animal feed value chain.
Since then, 430 farmer families have benefitted from the project and showcased a higher-level of agricultural process and improved livelihood together with their school children.
Francis Samilin, a farmer beneficiary partner, said the trainings they received through the yellow corn project improved their knowledge and skills in corn farming.
“The quality of the produced corn is good. The volume of our harvest increased and our income increased. If this continues, this will help us improve our status in life and the welfare of our children, especially the younger ones, for their education,” said Samilin.
Highlights of the event included the unveiling of a visibility marker of the flatbed dryer that was repaired through the project and the official announcement of Sto. Domingo Multi-Purpose Cooperative as an accredited supplier of yellow corn to Cargill.
Since March 30, Sto. Domingo Multi-Purpose Cooperative delivered almost 314,000 kilos of corn to Cargill.
Monico Castro, chief of Field Operations Division of DA Region Field Unit 2, expressed gratitude to Cargill for helping the corn industry in the Cagayan Valley -- dubbed as the Corn Capital of the Philippines -- and transforming Philippine agriculture.
“We are very thankful to Cargill for this initiative, because given that resources are scarce, we need convergence. We need collaboration so we can implement programs in accordance with the One DA Framework: Consolidation, Modernization, Industrialization, and Professionalization,” said Castro.
The Yellow Corn project is aligned to the One DA Framework and the National Corn Program. This inclusive business project with small-holder corn farmers is the official contribution of Cargill to the Task Force Pilipinas Kontra Gutom (PKG), a multi-sectoral movement led by the private sector established to help eradicate hunger and malnutrition in the Philippines by 2030.
Cargill Philippines and Save the Children Philippines are active members of the PKG Workstream 1 – Availability and Accessibility. This project has been recognized both by the DA and PKG for its contributions in improving the productivity and lives of small-holder farmers.
Cargill Philippines hopes to replicate this program on a wider scale with more corn cooperatives in the Cagayan Valley region and even beyond.
“Empowering local farmers is key to building resilience in farming communities, as well as addressing food security challenges. Building upon the success of the Yellow Corn Project, Cargill hopes to find more value-creating opportunities for smallholder farmers as we nourish the world safely and sustainably,” said Sonny Catacutan, president of Cargill Philippines and Managing Director of Cargill Animal Nutrition and Health Philippines. (PR)