THE Provincial Government of Negros Occidental has partnered with the Jollibee Group Foundation for the implementation of a deep procurement program positioned to boost local farmers, mainly by connecting them directly to the market.
Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino, who attended the memorandum of agreement signing at Mercure Hotel in Metro Manila yesterday, June 28, said the deep procurement business relationship scheme is under the food company's Farmer Entrepreneurship Program.
Essentially, under which, Jollibee is sourcing out raw materials like vegetables and other crops from their farmer-partners, Masculino said.
"Through this scheme, we can drastically change our farming arrangement. It would mean more interventions not only on the production side but also in the entire farming chain," he said, adding that "it would now be production directly to the market plus value formation."
Cutting the middlemen would improve the profitability of the farmers, Masculino stressed.
Part of the agreement is the conduct of development activities like training to ensure that farmers have steady and quality supply.
After the signing, the Provincial Government is set to identify next month at least five personnel from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Silay City Agriculture Office and academe, and nominate them as "change agents."
Masculino said Jollibee will select three "change agents" from the pool of nominees, who will focus on guiding the farmers in improving their production.
The one-year training to be conducted by Jollibee, which will start in August, includes lecture and practicum.
Masculino said they initially identified as farmer-partners the members of a farmers' association in Barangay Patag, Silay City. The "change agents," through their practicum, will help farmers strengthen their organization.
"We will start with one farmer-organization, but eventually it will expand," he said, adding that this is the first time for the province to enter such arrangement with a company that promotes "no middlemen" approach.
For the provincial agriculturist, Jollibee is huge market given its number of branches in the provinces aside from those of its other subsidiaries.
The province is optimistic to eventually cover all farmers groups in Negros Occidental, Masculino added.
Meanwhile, signing for the provincial government was Ma. Lina Sanogal, provincial planning, and development officer.
