Corteva Agriscience provided 2,000 farmers with rice and corn seeds to kickstart planting this season. In addition, the company continues to provide educational support via virtual classrooms.
PASIG CITY, Philippines, May 11, 2020 — In response to the Department of Agriculture’s “Plant, Plant, Plant” program, leading pure-play agriculture company Corteva Agriscience (NYSE: CTVA) distributed rice and corn seeds to 2,000 farmers across the Philippines. This contribution of seeds should result in approximately PHP80 million gross revenue for rural farming communities and additional yields of up to 3,750 metric tons of corn and 1,800 metric tons of rice, which will help to feed an additional 20,000 people.
Mr. Arun Mittal, Corteva Agriscience Country Director for the Philippines, said, “At this crucial time, we need to avoid a food crisis by ensuring the continuity of the food supply chain. As our health officials lead the fight against COVID-19, we see it as our duty as a leading agriculture company to support the fight against the threat of hunger.”
Since the Enhanced Community Quarantine, which commenced in mid-March, Corteva has worked diligently to ensure safe and continuous operations of its Luzon and Mindanao facilities, including its research and development stations. These facilities continue to supply high-quality hybrid rice and corn seeds to Filipino farmers. Critically, in close coordination with the Department of Agriculture, Corteva was able to ensure unhampered movement across the country to help farmers have continued reliable access to seed and crop protection products.
Corteva’s additional logistical support to its channel collaborators and farmers has meant customers in the value chain are receiving the products they need right at their doorsteps. Continuous learning and education programs are also available by Corteva through its Corteva AgriBida educational group on Facebook and through its official Facebook page for the Philippines.
The distribution of free seeds is just one of the company’s many initiatives to address food security for the nation. The Global Food Security Index identified improvements in the quality and availability of agricultural technology and initiatives which help farmers grow more high-quality crops as keys to improving food security and stabilizing food production in the Philippines. In support of this need, Corteva joined forces with the Department of Agriculture in October last year to establish 80 Educational Farms (EduFarms), across 40 municipalities covering 50,000 hectares. The EduFarm training centers provide farmer leaders with season-long field and in-classroom training. Topics covered range from land and seed preparation to marketing and financial management. Information on new seed preparation and crop protection technologies are also shared. Farmers involved in the EduFarms are anticipated to deliver an additional 50,000 metric tons of rice and 18,500 metric tons of corn to agriculture GDP across four seasons.
The company is also reaching out to support communities close to its EduFarm facilities. “Corteva Agriscience’s EduFarms routinely take a special interest in the farming communities close to our sites. For instance, at the start of this pandemic, we carried out several activities to increase planting areas and production yield,” explained Mr. Mittal.
“In the coming days, Corteva Agriscience will further our cooperation with the Department of Agriculture and identify areas where we can continue working together to address food security challenges,” he added.
About Corteva Agriscience
Corteva Agriscience is a publicly traded, global pure-play agriculture company that provides farmers around the world with the most complete portfolio in the industry - including a balanced and diverse mix of seed, crop protection and digital solutions focused on maximizing productivity to enhance yield and profitability. With some of the most recognized brands in agriculture and an industry-leading product and technology pipeline well positioned to drive growth, the company is committed to working with stakeholders throughout the food system as it fulfills its promise to enrich the lives of those who produce and those who consume, ensuring progress for generations to come. Corteva Agriscience became an independent public company on June 1, 2019, and was previously the Agriculture Division of DowDuPont. More information can be found at www.corteva.com, @CortevaPH Facebook page, or Corteva YouTube Channel.
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May/11/2020
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Contact
Name: May Meere
Phone: +65 9366 2351
Email: may.meere@corteva.com