Du Pont P1-billion investments in Tarlac corn seed processing plant

Chemical firm Du Pont has expanded its agricultural presence in the country with its P1-billion investments in corn seed processing plant in Luisita, Tarlac that would benefit 4,000 corn growing farmers.

 

Ramon S. Abadilla, country managing director, told reporters at the “Samahan sa Pilipinas ng mga Industriyang Kimika (SPIK) Innovation Forum yesterday the Tarlac investments would cover 7,000 hectares of corn seed production.

 

“This would benefit 4,000 farmers who are being tapped as our contract growers,” Abadilla said. The state of the art facility corn seed processing plant only started operation in March this year.

 

So far, Du Pont is concentrating on the production of conventional hybrid corn and other high-yielding bio seeds that others would call GMO, which now accounts for 40 percent of total corn production.

 

He said that farmers now resort to higher yielding corn seeds to improve their income. In fact, the Du Pont corn seeds are proven to be 35 percent higher in yield than the traditional corn seeds.

 

The high demand has led the company to expand its corn processing facility in Polomolok, South Cotabato to address the needs of farmers. While there have been criticisms about GMO, Abadilla said that technology is one way to help improve the farmer’s plight.

 

Du Pont is one of the country’s top two producers of high-yielding corn seeds.  One thing good, he said, “We are the only country in the region with registration for GMO seeds so we are able to use technology to uplift the plight of our farmers,” he said.

 

“That is why we supply the technology and educate the farmers without them spending for it. We try to improve the productivity of farmers at least 30 to 40 percent than the yield of traditional corn.” Their corn seeds have also an assurance of 95 percent germination.

 

Abadilla even noted that all the corn production is only for the domestic use. He said their would be enough local supply and farmers would gain more if there are no imports coming in.

 

Aside from its agricultural products, Du Pont also operates a 100-seat BPO center in the country offering training solutions, safety and health, industrial skills, operating excellence and general compliance. It covers the Asia Pacific region including Europe, Middle East and Africa