More vegetable farmers have finished SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) training program on sustainable agriculture, a testament of its concern to uplift the lives of farmers.
Recently 50 urban farmers from Pasay City, 25 from Padre Garcia, Batangas, and 73 from Brgys. Peza and Ariendo in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija got their certificates of completion after undergoing a 14-week agri-training program. Aside from basic and advanced organic farming techniques, they also received training on how to become entrepreneurs. SM Foundation’s KSK training program was initiated to help marginalized vegetable farmers in the rural areas provide food on their tables. It has since evolved to include among its beneficiaries urban farmers. To complement the agriculture training program, SM Foundation collaborated with government agencies to provide training in entrepreneurship and ensure the program’s sustainability. Project partners include SM Prime Holdings, Department of Agriculture, DSWD, local government units, TESDA and DTI, as well as private agriculture training centers. The program has now more than 28,500 farmer graduates all over the country.