LUCENA CITY, Philippines – Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala inaugurated, on September 26, 2014, the Quezon Agri-Pinoy Trading & Processing Center (APTPC), a 5000 square meter village type corn-processing center in Tayabas.
The PhP 28.2 million trading center shall be managed and operated by Isa Akong Magsasaka Foundation Inc. (IAMFI) in an interim capacity for five years or until a federated farmers’ cooperative is organized and capacitated to do so.
Sec. Alcala shares: “Kabilin-bilinan sa akin ni Pangulong Noynoy, everywhere you go there should be interaction with stakeholders para may feedback.”
“Utang na loob namin ito sa inyo. Marunong makinig ang Kagawaran at ang Kalihim sa inyo, aming mga stakeholders,” he added.
The secretary stressed that all the policies that DA implements emanates from the nationwide consultation with farmers.
The facility, once fully operational, will enable farmers to harvest even during rainy reason while maintaining the quality of corn. Drying facilities will eventually be added.
In 2010, the Philippines’ corn import amounted to PhP 28 billion, but by this year the Agri-Pinoy National Corn Program reports that the country is already 98% sufficient.
The newly-opened center is expected to generate income for corn farmers as trading facilitator and service provider. The center will facilitate the trading of marketable corn stocks of farmers to bulk buyers who offer the highest possible price for volume deliveries. It will also provide services such as trading/warehousing, drying/shelling, land preparation, and trucking to participating farmers.
The Quezon APTPC has five project components namely: trading center and warehousing facility; postharvest facility (mechanical corn dryer/sheller); farm machineries (motorized 4 wheel tractors); trucking services; and agricultural extension, training, and cooperative development services. Acting Tayabas Mayor Wenda de Torres said the inaugurated center will surely advance agriculture programs and encourage the more than 3,000 farmer beneficiaries to plant more corn.
