Nestle Philippines is looking to source its supply of cassava powder for its beverage products from local farmers through a partnership with the Department of Agriculture.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol revealed that the country’s farmers would have to produce about 70,000 tons a year to ”fill up the requirements of Nestle.”

He revealed details of his meeting with Nestle Philippines Chief Executive Officer Jacques Reber, who called on him to seek a partnership on the production of cassava powder by farmers across the country.

The cassava powder will supply the requirements of Nestle’s Milo Malt Plant in Lipa, Batangas, which is expected to go into operation beginning in June 2018.

“To make this plant successful, we will be needing 62 tons per day of cassava powder for us to produce Milo products,” Reber said.

He said that the Philippines is “the leading Milo consumer in the market” next to Malaysia.

Cassava farmers produce anywhere from 30 to 40 metric tons per hectare, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which said cassava production increased by 1.50 percent for the period January to March 2017.

Piñol said the department would continue its effort to improve cassava production to meet the international demand for the product in the market.

The establishment of processing facility would be important in securing a big volume of cassava produced every year, he said.

Nestle Philippines committed to help in the establishment of a cassava processing facility for farmers. ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)

Reference:

Usec.  Bernadette Romulo-Puyat
Undersecretary for Agribusiness & Marketing, and Regional Engagement