|
FOOD and
beverage conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has
expressed “keen interest” in financing some of the
grains centers the Department of Agriculture would put
up, according to Assistant Secretary Dennis Araullo.
He added
they were thinking of financing the construction of at
least 10 grains centers in corn-growing areas, but that
the talks are still preliminary.
Each
grains center is estimated to cost around P500 million,
but is seen as an important component of the effort to
stabilize corn prices.
They
will have silos, dryers and shellers enabling the
effective protection of the corn from rain, rot and
insects. They are therefore expected to reduce
postharvest losses and ensure the efficient transport of
the produce from production areas to markets.
Araullo
said the possible sites of the grain centers include
Bukidnon, Cagayan Valley, Isabela, Occidental Mindoro,
Quirino, Saranggani, Pangasinan, Pampanga, North
Cotabato and Maguindanao.
SMC is
seen as interested because a subsidiary manufactures
animal feed, and corn is a major component of animal
feeds. Feed millers and poultry and hog raisers have
been complaining of the high cost of corn in the market.
In the
first quarter this year, poultry raisers led by the
United Broiler Raisers Association said the steep price
of corn despite its supposed abundance in the time of
harvest is quite puzzling. One reason may be that the
production, as in each of the past years, is not enough
to meet the continually growing demand.
Araullo
noted that corn production must grow by 8 to 10 percent
annually until 2010 for the country to attain
self-sufficiency. |
