Cabanatuan City—SM Foundation recently launched two batches of its Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers’ Training Program in this city of Nueva Ecija and in Calamba, Laguna.
At Barangay Daang Sarile, Cabanatuan, 120 farmers who are beneficiaries of the 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) attended the launch before the training started on February 11.
Barangay chairman Melanie Garcia said the choice of their barangay as the site of the training program was fortuitous, as she exhorted her fellow residents to support the program.
In attendance were officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, City Agriculture Office, and SM City Cabanatuan.
Cristie S. Angeles, assistant vice president for SM Foundation’s Outreach Program, and Emmanuel Demdam of Macondray Philippines also graced the launch.
Freddie Villamael, a KSK Batch 182 graduate from Talavera, Nueva Ecija, gave an inspirational message and thanked SM Foundation for helping him increase his farm’s onion production and providing the graduates with the basic skills to become entrepreneurs.
Together with some of his batchmates, Villamael formed an association to further improve their skills and help other farmers.
Meanwhile, in Calamba, 194 participants are learning the rudiments in Plot Making, Plastic Mulch Installation, Basal Application of Organic Fertilizer, Lecture and Seed Sowing.
A component of SM Foundation’s Livelihood Advocacy, the KSK Farmers’ Training Program was institutionalized by SM founder Henry Sy Sr. to provide Filipino farmers with sustainable training and develop the love for farming among the younger generations.