Manny Piñol
Following my conversation with farm worker-turned billionaire Larry Y. Rubinos of Tagum City two days ago, I am now finalizing the blueprint of a concept which would enable ordinary rice farmers of Braulio Dujali, Davao del Norte to become co-owners of an agricultural corporation.
The proposed Farmers’ Corporation Of Braulio Dujali will target the production of Top Quality Rice from an initial area of 1,000 hectares involving 1,000 farmers.
The investments in the corporation will be initially provided by Larry Y. Rubinos to include the establishment of a modern Rice Processing Facility, dryers and transport facilities.
The first 1,000 farmers will be provided with production inputs like seeds, fertilizer, pesticide and herbicide, the value of which will be deducted from the sale of their palay production, while labor will be provided by the farmers as their counterpart.
With a projected production of 6-metric tons per hectare twice a year and a guaranteed price of P22 per kilo, the farmer will earn an estimated gross income of P264,000.
But that will not be all since as stakeholders of the corporation, the farmer-members will still have a share from the other income derived from the processing of palay into milled rice to include the rice bran and hull.
These are the benefits which the farmers do not enjoy when they sell their produce directly to traders and this additional income could serve as their investments in the corporation.
With excellent drying and processing facilities, it would not be difficult to market the LYR Dujali Premium Rice which could be sold directly to corporations and companies, including LYR’s thousands of employees, at a price lower than those in the market.
Managed well, the Rubinos Formula could emancipate our rice farmers from the exploitation of unscrupulous traders and provide quality local rice to consumers at lower prices.
Most of all, when replicated in other rice producing towns all over the country, this could spur greater productivity and ensure rice self-sufficiency in every agricultural community.
The Rubinos Formula could be a game changer in the Rice Sufficiency Program and in addressing Rural Poverty in the country. (Manny Piñol )