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[av_heading heading=’ URBAN FARMER | Training program for rural farmers’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY JULIO P. YAP JR.
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Wednesday, May 24, 2017
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THE Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) Rural Farmers’ Training Program was recently organized by SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI) in the province of Lanao del Norte where it conducted an orientation and training on livelihood, particularly in the cultivation of vegetables and other high-value crops.
The event, which was fully supported by the provincial government, was attended by more than 144 participants composed of small farmers, including the staff of the Integrated Growth Program for Lanao del Norte, and municipal agriculture offices from the different municipalities of the province.
The orientation was held at the Mindanao Civic Centerin Barangay Sagadanan in the capital town of Tubod.
The launching was led by Lanao del Norte governor Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte 2nd District representative Abdullah D. Dimaporo, Arsenio “Toto” Barcelona of Harbest Agribusiness, and SM Foundation, Inc. AVP Cristina S. Angeles.
Throughout the 12-week training, the participants attended a comprehensive course in production of organic high-value crops.
The training included lectures and hands-on activities where the farmers were able to experience the actual challenges of organic farming.
The season-long technical and hands-on training on vegetables and high-value crops, consisting of more than 120 participants per site, has already developed more than 15,000 small farmers into self-sufficient families, earning their living from the vegetables and fruits they produce from their lands.
Aside from getting hands-on experience in planting high-value crops, the farmer-participants also learned about marketing their produce and other entrepreneurial skills.
The KSK Rural Farmers’ Training Program has also been introduced in the provinces of Zamboanga and Sulu not only to provide farmers with the techniques on sustainable cultivation of their farm lots but also to provide them with a capacity-building program.
Launched in Bacolod City in 2007, the KSK Farmers’ Training Program has already inspired many small farmers to form cooperatives and become entrepreneurs.
Among the objectives of the program include:
Provide trainings on new organic farming technologies for the production of organic high-value crops through Harbest Agribusiness Corporation and MacPlas Academy;
Conduct capability-building activities for the participants to learn entrepreneurial skills through the Department of Social Welfare and Development;
Provide linkages to possible market such as the SM Markets (SM Supermarket, SM Savemore and SM Hypermarket); and,
Facilitate replication of the learnings to their fellow farmers and other interested individuals through the Department of Agriculture.
The participants in Lanao del Norte were divided into groups and each group consisted of participants coming from the different barangays.
This is essential for the organization of the group towards sustainable production of crops.
Since the first graduation of the KSK Program in Bacolod City in2007, the KSK has evolved into one of the pillars of the SMFI’s CSR Program.
Since 2007, the KSK Program has graduated more than 15,300 small farmers, agribusiness entrepreneurs, and agriculturists from the LGUs.
The program has covered 124 sites all over the country where SM malls and SM Markets are located.
According to Angeles, it is SM’s way of giving back to the communities it serves. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)
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