Pork production pushed in Butuan City

SO YOU have a sustainable entrepreneurship campaign and a brand to push it, but how do you bring lofty ideals down to the farm level?

For Pilmico, the food subsidiary of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., it is through local roadshows.

Nationwide, Pilmico— through the funding from the Aboitiz Foundation, the corporate citizen arm of the Aboitiz Group—has donated a total of 796 piglets and 223 egg machines, and assisted 14 agri-posts where beneficiaries receive feedbags as restart-up capital.

In addition, 411 families nationwide are benefiting from the “Mahalin Pagkaing Atin” program from 2014 to present.

Given such milestones, the results of Mahalin Pagkaing Atin have been encouraging, Pilmico said. But there is no rest for the program. Pilmico hit the ground running in 2016 for its Mahalin Pagkaing Atin program, which aims to promote sustainable entrepreneurship by encouraging the “buy local” mindset with the Mahalin Pagkaing Atin-Caraga Pork Festival in Butuan City.

Several seminars on animal husbandry and nutrition, including a cooking competition. were held in the area.

Cooking demos by Mahalin Pagkaing Atin brand ambassador chef Boy Logro were also held, where the different flavors of Caraga were showcased using pork dishes.

The event, organized in partnership with US-based nonprofit organization Winrock International, was held on Jan. 29 at Big Daddy’s Convention Center in Butuan City and was targeted toward the region’s local farmers and entrepreneurs.

Winrock International chief of party Dan Guhdal and Pilmico vice president for feed sales Norie Bermudez addressed farmers and other attendees at the festival to encourage improvements in local farm production and efficiencies in buying local produce.

Representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry held a branding and selling workshop, Pilmico said.

The pork festival in Butuan City forms part of Pilmico’s Mahalin Pagkaing Atin program, a campaign introduced in mid-2014 that aims to promote sustainable entrepreneurship through local produce and instill a “pride of product, pride of place” mindset for both farmers and local consumers, thus enabling operators to maximize profit without passing through middlemen.

During these campaigns, Pilmico donates piglets and egg machines, together with a complete kit of pens containing 48 six-month-old ready-to-lay hens and rearing cages with built-in feeding trough, waterer and one month worth of feeds.

Pilmico started its Mahalin Pagkaing Atin program in Butuan City in November 2014, where 450 piglets were donated to deserving beneficiaries. These donations enabled local farmers to sustain their livelihood through an easy-to-manage business with a quick return on investment, despite the threats of poverty, tragedy, or conflict.

The agribusiness company has been providing customers with high-quality wheat flour and related products since 1962.

It also excels in the production of swine and animal feeds. With its consistent excellence and top-notch products, Pilmico ensures market competitiveness by increasing customer satisfaction.