MANILA, Philippines - Giant PH supermarkets like SM, Rustan’s, Shopwise, SaveMore and Mindanao-based NCCC Mall have vowed to buy direct from onions and garlic farmers in a bid to eradicate cartels controlling these goods, according to Department of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol.
In an article written for Notre Dame Broadcasting Center, Piñol revealed that SM, Rustan’s, Shopwise, and SaveMore pledged to buy directly from the farmers with the help of Presidential Adviser on Economic Entreprise and Go Negosyo head Joey Concepcion.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture Chief was able to convince NCCC mall through a text message he sent to the company’s vice president Riolinda Lim.
“I am seeing the start of the liberation of the country's onion and garlic farmers from the control of cartels who have monopolized the industry for ages now,” Piñol wrote.
According to Piñol, Pinoy onion and garlic farmers have been hit hard by low prices for their produce because "few, rich and powerful groups control the industry”. These groups carry out huge importation and unscrupulous practices like smuggling and hoarding, negatively affecting farmers.
Piñol is hoping to work out a system for onion farmers, particularly those in Bongabon Nueva Ecija, to be able to deliver their produce to the supermarkets.
“The first thing that the onion farmers need would be a working capital which would be used in buying the produce of their members to be delivered to these supermarkets,” Piñol said.
He added that farmers also need a revolving capital because the supermarkets have a payment system that does not allow direct payment upon delivery. Piñol also mentioned about the need for storage facilities as well as delivery trucks which would enable farmers to deliver their products to the NCCC Malls, which have about 20 supermarkets in Mindanao.
--Mini, The Summit Express
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| Change is coming for onion and garlic farmers in PH. PHOTO CREDIT: Facebook/Manny Piñol |
Meanwhile, the Agriculture Chief was able to convince NCCC mall through a text message he sent to the company’s vice president Riolinda Lim.
“I am seeing the start of the liberation of the country's onion and garlic farmers from the control of cartels who have monopolized the industry for ages now,” Piñol wrote.
According to Piñol, Pinoy onion and garlic farmers have been hit hard by low prices for their produce because "few, rich and powerful groups control the industry”. These groups carry out huge importation and unscrupulous practices like smuggling and hoarding, negatively affecting farmers.
Piñol is hoping to work out a system for onion farmers, particularly those in Bongabon Nueva Ecija, to be able to deliver their produce to the supermarkets.
“The first thing that the onion farmers need would be a working capital which would be used in buying the produce of their members to be delivered to these supermarkets,” Piñol said.
He added that farmers also need a revolving capital because the supermarkets have a payment system that does not allow direct payment upon delivery. Piñol also mentioned about the need for storage facilities as well as delivery trucks which would enable farmers to deliver their products to the NCCC Malls, which have about 20 supermarkets in Mindanao.
--Mini, The Summit Express
