Project by: FarmOners Agriculture Cooperative
Duration: 1 Year (2 croppings)
Farm Produce: Palay
Minimum: ₱20,000 (+₱500 one-time membership fee)
Start of pre-farming preparations:
• 1st Batch: March 2020
• 2nd Batch: April 2020
• 3rd Batch: May 2020
TOWARD RICE SELF-SUFFICIENT PHILIPPINES
"Those who are crazy enough to think they can change the world usually do." - Steve Jobs
"Philippines rice imports to hit 2.3 million MT this year" by Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star) - February 11, 2019 - 12:00am.
The 2.3 MMT import is 21% higher than the 2018 import. The figure is pretty scary. This is one of the reasons why many consider agriculture as a dying industry. We are an agriculture country and yet we have been importing rice, our staple food, for years and this scenario will persist not unless we do something revolutionary. This is the mission that FarmOn would like put forward. While we understand that for now it is far fetched and it is just a dream but with the small step that we are taking each season we believe that one day we will be surprised to know that we have actually achieved a giant leap.
This has been the guiding principle that is motivating us to do more than what we can normally do. People may consider us crazy but as Steve Jobs puts it "The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do."
The Business Model
As a cooperative, most of the projects are in line with agriculture. It starts with the purchase of barren lands and converting them into productive farms. Smart agriculture will be used. To do that, first, the developed farms should be big enough so that full mechanization will be maximized. Tested and proven Package of Technology will also be used and the most advanced technology in agriculture will be utilized.
10,000 hectares cooperative-owned farm
The ultimate goal is to be able to purchase 10,000 hectares of non-irrigated barren lands and be able to convert them to irrigated productive farms. All of these farms will be owned and managed by the cooperative.
Farm development & Irrigation system
The barren lands will not only be converted to productive agricultural lands. Facilities like irrigation system and post harvest facility will be constructed/installed and even road networks, if needed, will be built.
Technical advantage
The Package of Technology that will be used are the latest and most advanced in the industry and they will be used in partnership with the industry experts. This will ensure us that the right and best farm inputs will be applied at the right time. It is only through this practice that we can get the best yield.
The Investment
Most of the capital share will initially go to the purchase of lands. This is necessary because without it farming will be impossible to do. Also, by buying barren lands the farmable land in an area will be increased and since all of the necessary development and facilities will be done there will be no reason for it not to have a good yield.
The Process
For the past 5 years, the science and art of farming have been tested, proven and perfected. This entailed partnerships with industry leaders and experts, continuous education programs, researches and adaption of new and advanced technology. Today, we are proud to have owned and used the latest and most advanced machines and technology. From laser land levellers, to direct seeders and transplanters, to drones - we have them all. For drones alone, we have drone sprayers, drone spreaders, drone camera and even the latest multi-spectral drone from France. To complete the process, we will also have the state of the art sackless Post-harvest Facility.
Schedules
Every year, from January to May, all newly purchased farmlands will be developed. This is in preparation for the first (1st) cropping season of the year.
| Cropping Season | Start of Season | Expected Harvest Season |
| First | April to June | August to October |
| Second | October to December | February to April |
FarmOn will be doing new projects through cooperative. We believe that this is the only way where we can build a win-win-win solution for all the stakeholders. 1) The farmers will be benefitted in the way that we have been helping them for years; 2) the consuming public will enjoy fresh and cheap agricultural products; and 3) the members will earn a decent income in the process.
As a member of the cooperative, all FarmOners will now have a voice. We will also remain steadfast in our advocacy which is to provide a long-term and sustainable solution to the problems of the agriculture industry here in the Philippines.
| Farm Cost: | P200 per sqm |
| No. of croppings per year: | 2 croppings |
| Harvest per sqm per year |
low: 1.8 kg high: 2.4 kg |
| Price of palay |
low: P12 per kg high: P16 per kg |
| Sales of palay per sqm per year |
low: P21.6 high: P38.4 |
| Operational Expenses per sqm | low: P8 |
| Profit per sqm per year |
low: P13.6 high: P30.4 |
| ROI per year |
low: 6.8% high: 15.2% |
Important notice: The estimate above was computed based on the prevailing prices and circumstances. Please understand that these are just estimates and so changes may apply and it should not be misconstrued as a guarantee. In preparing this estimate, the team conducted due diligence in considering all factors that may affect the operation and they have included them in the equation.
Welcome to FarmOners Agriculture Cooperative! This website is operated by FarmOners Agriculture Cooperative and is offered to all members. Using this website signifies your acceptance without modification of the terms, conditions, and notices contained herein (the “Terms”). Your use of the website constitutes your agreement to all such Terms. Please read these terms carefully, and keep a copy of them for your reference if you need to. This website provides resources and information on the operation of the cooperative.
Membership
An applicant for membership shall file a duly accomplished form to the Board of Directors (BOD) through the membership committee. As a matter of policy, active Farmoners will automatically be accepted in recognition for their participation in the previous projects.
Membership Fee is: P500
Minimum Share Capital is: Php 20,000. An applicant for membership shall subscribe at least Php 20,000 as the minimum share capital. The minimum share represents 100 sqm of farm. No member, however, shall own or hold more than ten percent (10%) of the total subscribed share capital of the Cooperative.
Please be guided that the minimum share capital is already the member’s initial investment and it may be withdrawn if the member decides to leave the cooperative.
Details about the membership including the rights, benefits and privileges of the members are embodied in the cooperative’s By-Laws and all applying members will have to attend a seminar about it.
Privacy and Data Use Policy
Your use of the Site is subject to FarmOners Agriculture Cooperative’s Privacy and Data Use Policy. Please read it carefully. This also governs the Site and informs users of our data collection practices.
By registering and joining, it is implied that you have understood and agreed to all of the Terms of Service as provided by the videos. Please understand as well that when you create an account, we process your information including these key points:
• Upon setting up of a FarmOn Account, we will store the information that you gave us like your name, email address, telephone number and other details.
• We will also store information that you create when you use FarmOn services like writing us through the message center, email, messenger or comment on Facebook and on our YouTube video. The information will be used to serve you better and for future references but it will not be used in any other way other than that stated above.
We process this data for the purposes described in our policy, which will be carefully drafted out of our Articles of Incorporation and Constitution and By-Laws. We do that in order to:
• Deliver better services;
• Provide more personal, customized, useful and relevant services;
• Improve the quality of our services and develop new ones;
• Protect you against fraud and abuse; and
• Conduct survey, analytics and measurement to understand how our services are used.
Electronic Communications
Visiting the web site, Youtube account, Facebook page or sending emails to FarmOners Agriculture Cooperative constitutes electronic communications. You consent to receive electronic communications and you agree that all agreements, notices, disclosures and other communications that we provide to you electronically, via email on the Site and all social media accounts satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing.
FarmOners Agriculture Cooperative does not knowingly collect, either online or offline, personal information from persons under the age of eighteen (18). If you are under 18, you may use the Site only with permission of a parent or guardian.
Projects
In general, projects of the cooperative will be long term solutions to the agriculture sector. These projects may involve, but is not limited to, the procurement of real estate assets, and equipments and the construction facilities.
As an integral part of the project, the cooperative will be buying barren lands and convert them to productive farms again. In converting these lands, heavy and modern equipments including laser land leveller will be used. Aside from the civil works that need to be done, part of the development will be the construction of support facilities like irrigation system.
Project Timeline
Every year, from January to May, all newly purchased farmlands will be developed. This is in preparation for the first (1st) cropping season for the year.
As a guide, the following schedules will be observed:
| Cropping Season | Start of Season | Expected Harvest Season |
| First | April to June | August to October |
| Second | October to December | February to April |
