SM Foundation’s Farmers Training Launched in Cauayan, Isabela

More than 100 farmers including Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries will join a 3-month farmers training in Cauayan, Isabela under the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) Sustainable Agriculture Program of the SM Foundation. Launched last July 7, the KSK farmers training will be conducted every Friday starting July 17, 2015.

Cristie Angeles, SM Foundation Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Livelihood, explained how the Foundation envisions the training program to help the marginalized farmers. “Aside from putting food on the table, the farmers are also taught how to be self-sufficient and become entrepreneurs. After 3 months, the farmers will be able to grow and harvest their own vegetables and fruits.  They will also be given an opportunity to learn how to market and earn more from their produce.”

Arsenio Barcelona, President of Harbest Agribusiness Corporation, on the other hand said, “The farmers will have 12 weeks hands-on training on modern farming and doable agricultural technologies. They will be taught and guided by an agriculture expert on the basic and advance knowledge in growing vegetables and fruits to be used as their source of income.”

At the launch of SM Foundation’s KSK farmers training were Cristie Angeles, SM Foundation AVP for Livelihood; Arsenio Barcelona, President of Harbest Agribusiness Corporation; Ian Ezekiel Balao, Mall Manager of SM City Cauayan; Donna Ivy Mallari, Assistant Store Manager of SM Cauayan Supermarket; and, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Agriculture.