SM Foundation bolsters modern farming skills of 160 urban farmers in Antipolo

[caption id="attachment_6318" align="aligncenter" width="697"]SM Foundation bolsters modern farming skills of 160 urban farmers in Antipolo SM Foundation bolsters modern farming skills of 160 urban farmers in Antipolo[/caption]

Some Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) farmer-graduates, together with SM Foundation’s executive director for Farmers’ Training Program Cristie Angeles (middle), carrying their fresh produce during their harvest festival at SM Cherry Antipolo.

SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) Batch 194, composed of 160 participants from the different barangays in Antipolo City, recently reaped the product of their hard work with a harvest festival and graduation ceremony on May 9 as they finished the twelve-week training program at SM Cherry Antipolo.

SM’s KSK programs aims to equip farmer-participants with the knowledge on doable agricultural technology to produce high-value crops such as vegetables and fruits. For this batch, the KSK beneficiaries were taught with modern farming technologies which fit an urban garden setting through the assistance of Macondray Philippines.

Aside from the technical know-how on urban farming, the BDO Foundation oriented them about farm accounting, financial literacy planning and budgeting. SM Supermalls employees were also enjoined in this initiative as they discussed the 14 Life Principles of Henry Sy, Sr. to the urban farmers.

The City Agriculture Office, City Cooperative and Livelihood offices of the city government of Antipolo likewise shared insights and opportunities that they can pursue after completing the KSK training through a sustainability forum. SM Supermarket also discussed to the beneficiaries about market planning and opportunities as future suppliers of the SM Food Group.

“Through the collaborative effort of SM Foundation, private companies and the city government of Antipolo, we are able to provide learnings and opportunities for the people of Antipolo to become self-sufficient in terms of food and livelihood. We shall continue to extend these programs to support the communities around SM as part of Tatang’s vision,” said Joey Tanyag, SM Cherry Antipolo’s Mall Manager.

SM Foundation’s executive director for Farmers’ Training Program Cristie Angeles congratulated all the farmer-graduates and expressed her hopes for them to put to use all the learnings they have acquired within the 12-week training. She likewise conveyed her appreciation to all partners in helping SM Foundation make this initiative possible.

This effort was also in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).