Story of 50 kilos! Philippine Soybeans Program To Cover 25,000 Has. In 2025

What started as just an experiment on the viability of growing Soybeans in the pineapple fields of Polomolok, South Cotabato may yet become the foundation of a National Soybeans Industry which could boost our livestock and poultry industry and save the country billions in importing the commodity.
In late 2022, Department of Agriculture Caraga Region Director Ricardo “Bong” Oñate gave me 50 kilos of old seeds of two Soybeans varieties, the Manchuria White and Tudela Black, products of small farmers in the region.
Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur farmers had been growing Soybeans for decades but they have never progressed beyond providing supplies for the local “Taho” industry.
San Miguel Corp. attempted to engage the farmers of Caraga in the production of Soybeans but apparently the failure of the farmers to produce a volume to fill up the requirements of SMC led to the termination of the arrangement.
Added to that was the indifference of the DA to other crops outside of Rice and Corn, not realizing that the country needed Soybeans more than Corn to boost the livestock, aqua and poultry industry.
From the 50 kilos of Soybean seeds, I was able to produce 2.3-metric tons which today has given us about 20 metric tons of good seeds for our 3rd Cycle.
The 20-metric tons could cover 500 hectares for our 3rd Cycle which, assuming that the average yield is 2-metric tons per hectare, could produce seeds which could cover 25,000 hectares by 2025.
The reason for the big jump in the Soybeans Production area was because I addressed the problems that stunted the growth of the Soybeans Industry in Caraga Region.
1. Assured market, guaranteed price for farmers. In the second cycle of our production in Alamada, Kidapawan City and Mlang, Cotabato, farmers who joined the Soybeans production program were assured that their production will be covered by a marketing agreement;
2. Production Support. The most critical part of this program was the support by a private company owned by my friend, German Panghulan, Vetmate Farma Corporation, to provide the production requirements of the farmers, from seeds, tractor services to inputs;
3. Market Linkage. Before I decided to expand the Seed Production for Soybeans, I ensured that there would be a market for the production and I was able to engage Charoen Pokphan Foods Philippines (CPF Phils.) and La Filipina, a company which is one of the biggest importers of Soybeans.
So today, we are all set to venture into large scale Soybeans Production because we have enough seeds to cover large areas.
We did not reach this stage without so much hardships and sacrifices.
In the many instances where farmers failed to reach the target yield, I had to pay them an “insurance” to make sure that they earn a little even if their crops failed.
The learning process in the propagation of Soybeans which I mainly acquired by listening the accounts of farmers, reading all available literatures in the internet and actual experimentation was painful and expensive.
Looking back, I almost could not believe that 50 kilos of old Soybeans seeds with very low germination could give birth to a national industry which could save the country billions in importation, provide livelihood to farmers and rehabilitate their soil and boost the country’s aqua, poultry and livestock industry.
Our good fortune is that the new Secretary of Agriculture, Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., realizing that Soybeans production was an advocacy of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. when he was a Senator, is now throwing his full support to the Soybeans Industry.
So, it’s all bases covered and we are now ready to rumble.

#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
#KungMayItinanimMayAanihin!