CLARK FREEPORT -- SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI), recently launched its 221st batch of Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) on Sustainable Agriculture Program in Castro-Tomas Agritechture Farm School in Camiling, Tarlac.
The program is in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Tourism (DOT), SM Markets, SM Supermalls, and St. Isidore "The Farmer" Learning Center Inc.
"We thank SM Foundation for this program as we also promote vegetable production for food security in our municipality," Camiling Mayor Erlon Agustin said during the launching ceremonies.
The newly-formed group of different government and non-government organizations were able to consolidate resources, which helped enhance SM's Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan on Sustainable Agriculture Program that is essential in producing quality, safe, fresh fruits and vegetables.
KSK on Sustainable Agriculture Program is a holistic training program designed to prepare its farmer participants in becoming productive and effective farmer entrepreneurs for agriculture sustainability and food security. It will aid in creation of opportunities, skills/ education enhancement, livelihood and employment, KSK-SAP's complete value chain will uplift and empower marginalized farmers.
Key goals of the program include technical vocational training adapting new farming technologies and development of entrepreneurial skills that will lead to profitable enterprises. Capacity building, business values, simple accounting and post-harvest handling will also be part of the program.
SM partners have tapped possible markets for the participants. To further increase the self-esteem of the farmers, Tesda provided scholarships in Organic Agriculture Production NCII and Agricrops Production NCII to our farmer beneficiaries in identified sites all over the country.
KSK 2020 has five project sites in Tarlac. There are 100 farmer-participants in Camiling, 25 participants in La Paz, 25 in San Jose, 25 in San Clemente, and another 25 in Victoria, making a total of 200 farmer-scholars.
Present during the launch were SMFI Outreach Programs AVP Cristie Angeles, Mayor Agustin, Tesda Tarlac Provincial Director Engr. John Adawey, Tesda Training Indoctrination Program Officer Larry Perez, St. Isidore Farm School Owner Engr. Romeo Cordova, and Castro-Tomas Agritechture Farm School owner Jhun Castro.
SM's Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers' Training Program was launched in 2007 and has reached out to more than 26,000 marginalized farmers all around the country. It has provided livelihood opportunities, and to many, food security, primarily through market linkages.