The government has identified 30 to 45 big agri-business companies that are willing to mentor and offer technological support to small local farmers to increase their production, credit, and market access, according to Malacanang private sector adviser Jose Maria “Joey” Concepcion.

Concepcion, Go Negosyo founder and Private Sector Advisory Council Lead for the Jobs Sector said in a forum recently that the government and the private sector must work together to provide local farmers with the access to technological equipment, as well as entrepreneurial support and mentorship from bigger agri-business groups.

In line with this, Concepcion said that the private sector has identified 30-45 "big brothers" including a large Tobacco farmer in Ilocos, a big coconut dealer in Palawan, and one from a huge cacao-producing company.

He said these big brothers have pledged to help the small local farmers, providing them with access to their technology, market, and mentorship in order to procure their produce.

“If we really want to improve the lives of our farmers and reduce the level of poverty, the only way is to really scale up our farmers,” said Concepcion.

He recommends two options: either allow the farmers to collect money upon selling or leasing their land to larger agri-entrepreneurs – which he called big brothers; or encourage them to join the big entrepreneurs in a more advanced farming and agri-business management.

He further emphasized that in order to make the farmers viable, they need to partner with these bigger agri-entrepreneurs that would also eventually drive the banking sector to lend to the agri sector upon seeing that these farmers are being guided and backed with significant market strategies.

“The banks must be confident that these micro and small farmers are in the hands of reputable big brothers,” Concepcion said, noting that the partnership between small farmers and large agri-entrepreneurs actually “works.”

This objective is part of the GO Negosyo’s Kapatid Angat Lahat Agri Program (KALAP) in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) which aims to transform the nation's agricultural sector by integrating small farmers into the value chains of big agribusiness firms.

Meanwhile, Concepcion invites micro-entrepreneurs to the upcoming Go Negosyo’s SIGN UP! Summit aims to gather mobile app platforms to help micro-entrepreneurs become self-earning businessmen in the digital economy.

This event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 23 at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay, as part of the private sector’s effort together with the DTI to provide more business opportunities to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) while adapting to digitalization. (Ma. Joselie C. Garcia)