New Nestlé plant in Lipa expected to boost cassava purchasing, Agri dep’t says

THE Department of Agriculture is expecting cassava producers to be supported by the purchasing of Nestlé Philippines, Inc., which recently completed a protomalt processing plant in Lipa, Batangas.

In a Facebook post, Agriculture Secretary Emmauel F. Piñol said Nestlé Philippines, Inc.’s P2-billion plant will process cassava flour into Protomalt, which is used in the group’s maltbased drinks.

Mr. Piñol was citing a recent dialogue with the firm’s chief executive officer, Jacques Reber.

Nestlé Philippines is looking to source about 70,000 metric tons of cassava every year to produce up to 35,000 metric tons of cassavabased malt, to supply market demand in the Philippines.

The country is the second-biggest market for its Milo Energy Drink brand next to Malaysia. “This development has offered a new hope for the cassava farmers who have long been suffering from the problem of how to process and sell their produce,” Mr. Piñol said in the statement.

Mr. Piñol said he has directed various regional directors across the country to organize assistance in accessing drying facilities for the cassava crop.

The agency is also seeking to establish cassava flour plants in regions where the crop is grown.

Last year, cassava output was 2.755 million metric tons, up 1.66%.

Northern Mindanao is the leading producer of cassava followed by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Cagayan Region. —