NABCOR: Emulate Calata, offer discounted farm inputs

The Department of Agriculture’s National Agribusiness Corp. is encouraging local farm input producers and suppliers to emulate Calata Corporation and sign a memorandum of agreement with the government in which the private input producer will offer substantial discounts to farmers. 

 

National Agribusiness Corp., or NABCOR, President Honesto Baniqued explained that under the memorandum of agreement signed with Calata, the company will engage in bulk purchases of corn from participating local corn farmers while the government will help the company link up with farmers and allow the firm to use its post harvest facilities.

 

"Calata Corp. is prepared to offer volume discounts to farmers and this will be a big boost to their income. We hope other companies will follow their lead," said National Agribusiness Corp., or NABCOR, President Honesto Baniqued.

 

He did not disclose the rate of discount that will be provided by Calata but he said that a 15 to 20 percent discount will benefit the farmers.

 

For their part, Calata Corp., formerly known as Planters Choice Agro Products, Inc., said the supply deal would improve its revenue stream through the sale of processed corn to feed mills nationwide as well as increase the sale of farm inputs.

 

"Once the supply deal with Calata Corp. proves to be successful, we will look into the possibility of doing the same thing for the supply of inputs for rice. We will wait for one crop year (for corn) and see how (the arrangement) will turn out," said Baniqued.

 

Calata is the biggest distributor of agrochemicals, feeds, fertilizers and veterinary medicines in the Philippines. — DVM, GMA News