September 24, 2012
Calata Corporation expands more services to Philippine farms
Philippine agricultural and livestock products distributor Calata Corporation will expand its assistance to Luzon-based rice and corn farmers in line with its bid to help increase farm productivity and protect the environment.
Calata Corporation chairman and CEO Joseph Calata said the firm is putting up soil testing facilities in all its more than 100 stores. The facility will help farmers determine what type of fertilizer and other farm inputs fit the type of soil in their respective farms, he said.
The facilities-which are for free-are also expected to generate savings for farmers thus raising their income potential through the right and wise use of farm inputs, he added.
Calata said the move has been prompted by "findings that the use of incompatible farms inputs, including fertilizers, have resulted into bigger expenses and reduced harvests for farmers". It may also be causing irreparable damage to the soil, Calata explained.
He estimated that close to 200,000 farmers stand to benefit from Calata Corp.'s soil testing facilities.
Calata Corp. is one of the largest agriculture conglomerates in the Philippines. It is the largest combined distributor of agrochemicals, feeds, fertilizers, veterinary medicines and other agricultural products in the country.
In addition, it is one of the Largest Poultry and Hog Growers in the country with contracts to produce more than nine million eggs, 3.5 million chickens, 12,000 sows, 26,000 piglets, and 10,000 hogs annually.
Finally, it is the largest retailer of agricultural products in the Philippines with more than 100 company-owned agri-retail outlets.
Calata Corp., a publicly-listed company, registered some P1.12 billion in revenues during the first half of 2012, up 40 percent compared to the same period last year.
