SOME 220 backyard vegetable farmers in Davao trained at Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers Training Program (KKFTP) of SM Foundation Inc (SM), and its partners are working to link the farmers and their market.

In the recent closing activity of the farmers training held at the Entertainment Plaza of SM City Davao, regional manager for Mindanao Debby A. Go said the three months of training done at the vacant lot of SM Davao has equipped the farmers with skills and knowledge in moving their crops to the market.

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The training was also held in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Davao City Agriculture Office, and the Davao City Government.

She said the project aims to empower farmers by providing them a venue to learn new skills, update their farming practices, and expose them to technologies that may aid them in their livelihood.

Cristie S. Angeles, executive director of SM Foundation's outreach program, said the recent graduates made up batch 16 of trainees, accounting for a total of 2,092 farmers under KKFTP that they piloted in Bacolod in 2007.

She said their Bacolod experience made good and, in partnership with the Negros Educational Development Foundation, the trained farmers are now supplying markets including SM.

Angles said the Davao leg also made a positive impact. Among the first batch of trainees in Marilog last year were farmers in Compostela Valley Province who were able to replicate their learning in other four municipalities.

"It is good to know that the training we gave to farmers is also being passed on to other backyard farmers if only to help this sector improve its income," she said.

The training, she said, is handled by Harbest Agribusiness, Inc. SM paid for the modules taught to farmers in 12 sessions spread out over three months of lectures and actual farming.

The second batch of training in Davao was held at the 5,000-square meter lot located at the back of SM City Davao and was able to generate almost P100,000 worth of proceeds of vegetables and fruits that they sell to buyers right at the mall area during their graduation day.

Angeles said majority of the trainees are 30 to 59 years old, with 69 percent male and 53 percent female.

She said what is interesting was the attendance of seven students. "I think it's a good sign that the youth are showing an interest in farming," she said.

She said there were also government employees and retirees, and many of the trainees maintain a backyard farm of 20 square meters.

Harbest operations manager for Davao Celis Alla said they taught farmers how to grow safe crops as they plant 80 to 90 percent organically grown vegetables and fruits. (Prix D. Banzon)