SM, together with its partners, recently welcomed another batch of Pasay urban farmers– composed of 25 beneficiaries–to the Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan on Sustainable Agriculture program (KSK). This brings the total number of current Pasay farmers under the KSK program to 50–the first batch of 25 farmers from Pasay was launched last July. This is in addition to more than 250 Pasay – KSK Farmer graduates since the program’s inception.
SMFI AVP for Outreach Programs Cristie Angeles explained that this KSK run is a 14-week long agri-training program that will discuss the following: Production of organic vegetables, organic extracts and fertilizers, plant preparation and propagation, science of container gardening, pest and disease management, and other topics related to sustainable agriculture.
Furthermore, also included in the training course is a module about SM’s late founder, Henry Sy Sr’s values and life principles–which intends to inspire Pasay urban farmer-participants as they establish their own agri-enterprises.
In her video message, Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano expressed her gratitude to SM for partnering with the city government of Pasay in bringing this social good program to the residents of the said city.
Through a video message, DTI NCR Regional Director Marcelina Alcantara shared “This is where the importance of urban farming comes to the fore. If we can generate a significant supply of food products from our cities, we will not only solve the issue of food security, but also bring in a sustainable source of income for our people. What’s laudable about this initiative is the fact that this is a provate sector led – and brought together different stakeholders from both public and private sectors of our country”.
Sharing his experience in running the social good project with SMFI, Glenn Ang, SM Supermalls SVP for Operations stated, “Libo libong tao na po across the country ang nag undergo sa KSK training at nabago ang kanilang pamumuhay. Hindi lang ito training, kayo rin po ay bibigyan ng access upang maibenta or makalakal ang ating mga produkto.”
SM’s Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) Farmers’ Training Program aims to bring modern and sustainable farming skills in both rural and urban communities to help farmers have food on their table and have potential economic opportunities. To date, the program has trained more than 28,100 farmers from more than 900 cities/municipalities nationwide.
