The onion cultivators of Kalasag Multipurpose Cooperative have been supplying onions to the Jollibee Food Group since 2009. This collaboration, facilitated by the Jollibee Food Foundation, has offered both consistent market access and agro-entrepreneurship education to these farmers from Nueva Ecija.
Arnold V. Dizon, the chairperson of Kalasag Multipurpose Cooperative, mentioned that reciprocal trust – combined with a collective sense of duty among its members – has been pivotal to the group’s achievements.
“Itinuturo po nila sa amin ang pagne-negosyo at paano magbenta sa malalaking kumpanya (They instruct us on business practices and how to market to large corporations),” added Mary Jing G. Contawe, a board member of the cooperative, in a different discussion with BusinessWorld.
“Mula nung naging member ako ng Kalasag, itinuro po sa amin ang food safety (I gained knowledge about food safety since joining Kalasag),” she continued. “Sila na rin nagbibigay kung anong fertilizer ang puwede gamitin (They also inform us about which fertilizers are appropriate).”
Interview by Patricia Mirasol
Video editing by Jayson Mariñas
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