For Flordorada Payar, the SM Foundation’s (SMFI) Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) on Sustainable Agriculture has not only helped her advance her knowledge in farming, but it has also widened her network which is vital for her agri-enterprise.
Payar finished the KSK training last 2018 under the Batch 157 in Dinalupihan, Bataan. Under this social good program, the Bataan farmers were provided with training on modern farming technologies – focusing on high-value crops production that would help them produce and sustain bountiful harvests. “Malaki po ang naitulong ng KSK sa aking buhay. Dahil dito, tumaas po ang aking kaalaman sa pagtatanim po at lalo rin po nitong napaigting ang aking interest sa pagsasaka,” Payar said.
The farmer-graduates are also provided with market linkages to help in boosting their social enterprises which in turn provide economic opportunities in their respective areas. Currently, Payar is one of the KSK graduates whose high-value crops are being sold in select SM Markets in Dinalupihan, Bataan.
“Hindi po natatapos sa training ang KSK program. Hanggang ngayon tinutulungan kami ng SM sa pag-market ng aming mga produkto. Isa sa mga natutunan namin sa programa ay ang tamang pag-presyo ng mga produkto kaya nasisigurado namin ang magandang kita sa mga ito,” she stated.
Beyond farming
More than just the farming knowledge instilled in the minds of the farmer-participants, they were also taught values and principles which they may use as they go along and continue reaching their aspirations in life. Included in the program is the imparting of the 14 Life Principles of Tatang Henry Sy, Sr.
“Maraming pangaral ang natutunan ko dahil sa KSK. Una na rito ang maging masipag sa buhay. ‘Yung istorya ng buhay ni Tatang, ang ama at haligi ng programang ito, ay nagsilbing inspirasyon namin upang patuloy na mangarap na balang araw ay makakaahon din kami sa hirap,” Payar shared.
“Maraming salamat po sa SM Foundation sa paglunsad ng KSK project. Ito po ay habang-buhay nang bahagi naming mga magsasakang nangangarap umunlad ang buhay,” she further expressed.
KSK opens opportunities for farmers
Just last year, Payar is one of the farmers in Bataan who were granted support from the local government unit (LGU) through the “10 Magsasaka, 10 Ektarya, Tungo sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita” program under the 1 Bataan Agri Inno Tech Corp, a Private-Public Partnership of the Province of Bataan and Agrilever Israel.
According to Payar, she submitted the required documents and underwent a tedious screening process in order to be selected as one of the pilot farms for the said LGU project. “Malaki po ang naitulong ng SM Foundation sa pagiging bahagi ko ng proyektong ito ng LGU. Bitbit ang mga kaalaman ko mula sa KSK, nakita ng LGU ang aking potensiyal at kakayahan sa pagsasaka,” Payar recalled.
As one of the pilot farms, Payar receives the following: seeds, water pump, fertilizer tank, and financial support for the salary of laborers, among others. Currently, Payar has four laborers who help her manage her farm.
Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) program aims to bring modern and sustainable farming skills in both rural and urban communities to help farmers have food on their table and have potential economic opportunities. To date, the program has trained more than 27,500 farmers from 3,370 barangays in 900 cities/municipalities.