Ancestral lands in Davao to be planted with rice, corn

Listed AgriNurture Inc. (ANI), the agribusiness firm chaired by businessman Antonio Tiu, is partnering with Davao’s Unified Bagobo-Tagabawa Tribe (UBTT) to plant rice and corn in up to 38,000 hectares of ancestral lands in the province.

ANI and UBTT signed the partnership agreement with officials of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) as witness. The agreement is for a period of 25 years, renewable for the same period upon mutual agreement of the parties.

In a statement Tuesday, ANI said it aims to promote inclusive agricultural and economic growth through the development of agricultural plantations. Under the deal, ANI will utilize the unused portions of the ancestral land of UBTT, invest in the development, operation and management of a rice and corn plantation and integrated corn processing facility to produce its BigMa or Bigas-Mais product. In exchange for the rights granted to ANI over their ancestral lands, UBTT will receive annual royalty fees based on actual utlized land and annual net profit share from the project.

“The [BigMa] project aims to provide an alternative staple for the country, reduce the country’s dependence on rice imports, create more jobs for Filipinos and reduce the country’s carbon footprint,” Tiu said. At least 10,000 new jobs are expected to be created under this venture.

ANI’s “BigMa” is a unique, low-glycemic rice-corn blend. It is touted as a healthier option for Filipino consumers. Local farmers also stand to benefit as demand for BigMa grows.

Tiu added that apart from the agricultural partnership, ANI will develop programs on health, skills development and alternative livelihood for the communities. Together with UBTT, various government agencies and foundations, ANI will also plant trees in more than 2,000 hectares of land.