From north to south, SM Foundation is teaching vegetable farmers the techniques of growing their own crops without the use of pesticides and by using organic fertilizers, seeds selection, and drip irrigation.
Through the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan or KSK Farmers’ Training Program, farmer-participants are maximizing the yield of their farmlots, not only for their daily consumption but also to become entrepreneurs.
Other farmers are banding together to set up cooperatives to be able to compete with big business and become vegetable suppliers to supermarkets. Indeed, the training they have received under the program has opened up new livelihood opportunities for them.
Batch 131 of KSK Urban Farmers’ Training Program in Baguio City recently held its Harvest Festival and Graduation ceremony. A total of 59 participants from the Manuel Quezon Elementary School and Happy Hollow National High School finished the season-long training in partnership with HarBest Agribusiness Corp., SM Baguio, SM Supermarket Baguio and DSWD-CAR SLP & 4Ps.
A harvest festival in Barangay Aliwekwek, Lingayen, Pangasinan was also held earlier this month as Batch 127 Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan of SM Foundation completed its training. Among the crops harvested there were eggplants, gourds, sweet cantaloupe,s brilliant golden honeydews and Diana-variety golden watermelons.
Going south, 101 participants in the farmers’ training program held their harvest festival in Zamboanga City. The program, conducted in partnership with Harbest Agribusiness, Go Negosyo, Department of Social Welfarte and Development, Department of Agriculture and the Zamboanga City government, aims to ensure food sufficiency and help spur the socioeconomic development in the city.