A total of 142 farmers from six municipalities in Bulacan recently completed a 12-week training program of SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan in Baliwag.
In partnership with the provincial and local governments, Departments of Agriculture, and Social Welfare and Development, Harbest Agribusiness Corp., SM Supermalls and SM Markets, the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan graduation ceremony was held at the event center of SM City Baliwag.
Farmer graduates also had the chance to participate on an hour-long tour around SM Hypermarket to observe the operations and product presentation of fruits and vegetables in case they decided to be one SM’s suppliers.
Among those who successfully completed the program were participants from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino or 4Ps and small farmers who went on hands-on training, and lectures on growing safe and sustainable crops, vegetables and fruits, in their backyards.
The training also provided input on how aspiring farmers could become entrepreneurs, amidst economic challenges, and changing weather conditions.
In 2017, SM’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan yield 201 farmer graduates in the City of San Jose del Monte. Senator Cynthia Villar, who was then the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, graced the event.
The senator stressed the lack of mechanization as one of the causes of non-competitiveness of our farmers.
“We are solving the root of the problem, which is the lack of technology, lack of mechanization, lack of financial literacy, and lack of ability to access social credit,” Villar said.
Prior to the graduation, a Harvest Festival was held at JBO Farm at Matangtubig in Baliwag. After harvesting, the KSK participants were divided into groups and competed in friendly parlor games and cooking competition using their produced high-value vegetables.