SOME of the country’s biggest agriculture companies recently converged to begin crafting the roadmap for the Kapatid Angat Lahat Agri Program, or Kalap.

This is a public-private sector initiative that aims to transform the country’s agriculture industry by integrating small farmers into the value chain of large agribusiness companies.

Held last March 24, the gathering, presided by Go Negosyo founder Jose Maria “Joey” Concepcion 3rd and former Agriculture secretary William Dar, laid down inclusive business models already employed by Kalap’s pioneer “big brother” companies.

Present during the discussion were Toby Gatchalian of Metro Pacific Agriventures, Christian Moeller of Lionheart Farms, James Amparo of Yovel East, Joey Uy of Nestlé Phils., Tennyson Chen and Carl Chung of Bounty Fresh, Nando Cojuangco of Central Azucarera de Tarlac, Winston Uy of Universal Leaf, and Simon Bakker of Kennemer Foods.

Eddie Guillen of the National Irrigation Administration and Allen Capuyan and Glenda Pua of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples attended to represent the agencies, which formally agreed to participate in Kalap.

Early this month, Concepcion inked several agreements with different government agencies to help tap into the VALUE CHAIN OF BIG AGRICULTURE fiRMS.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnessed the ceremonial signing in Malacañang.

“It is the platform where we hope to employ as many Filipinos as possible, and it will do so where our job creation efforts can have the most impact: in the agriculture sector,” Concepcion said.