The woes of the country’s Cassava farmers who have been beset with problems of market and very low prices may soon be over.
Nestle Philippines is looking for sources of about 70,000 metric tons of Cassava every year to be processed to Protomalt used in producing Milo Energy Drink.
Nestle Philippines Chief Executive Officer Jacques Reber, who visited the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) office today said the giant multi-national corporation has set up a P2-B plant in Lipa City, Batangas which would process cassava flour to Protomalt.
Protomalt is a key ingredient of Milo drinks and Cassava is the main raw material for the malt extract.
The Protomalt Plant to produce Milo Energy drink in Lipa City is expected to be completed early next year and will require about 70,000 metric tons of Cassava every year.
Reber said the Lipa Protomalt Processing plant could produce up to 35,000 metric tons of the cassava-based malt to supply the requirements of the Philippines.
The Philippines is the second biggest market of Milo Energy Drink next to Malaysia.
Reber told me yesterday that the Philippines could also become a major supplier of the Cassava-based malt for Nestle’s other production facilities for Milo Energy Drink, including Singapore.
This development has offered a new hope for the Cassava farmers who have long been suffering from the problem of how to process and sell their produce.
Today, I have directed the different Directors of Agriculture in regions producing Cassava to organize the Cassava farmers so that they could be assisted with drying facilities.
Part of the program is the establishment of Cassava Flour Plants in regions where Cassava is grown.
(Photos taken in the DAF office today show Nestle CEO Jacques Reber and DAF officials after a meeting. Other photos showing Cassava farmers were downloaded from public websites.)
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