(Harvest of chili. Contributed Photo)
TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija – A total of 105 farmers under Batch 182 successfully graduated after 12 weeks of training spearheaded by SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI) Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) Farmers Training Program held at Brgy. Caaniplahan in Talavera Nueva Ecija.
Joanne Bondoc said farmers are taught on effective backyard planting and small-scale farming techniques for fruits and vegetables. This helps improve the quality and quantity of their crops as well as provide organic food for their families.
“We also assist farmers who form cooperatives by linking them to local markets and SM suppliers for a more stable source of income and to encourage all the project partners to support the sustainability plan of the graduates” said Bondoc.
Mayor Nerivi Santos Martinez and other municipal leaders expressed their full-force support for the project and joined the harvest festival together with local farmers and project partners.
“I’ am very thankful to SM for giving our municipality a chance to experience KSK project and we are looking forward for another batch here as I wanted to pursue my advocacy in making Talavera as Vegetable Capital not only in Nueva Ecija but also in the country” said Martinez.
Martinez was known by her Gulayan sa Barangay, Paaralan at Bakuran program in the municipality wherein she personally encourage and support every household and schools to plant fruits and vegetables saying no resident has gone hungry because anyone can harvest vegetables from backyards or public gardens and also for their livelihood.
SMFI together with SM Supermalls, Local Government Unit in Talavera, Department of Agriculture, Department of Social Welfare and Development and Harbest Agribusiness Corporation made this project possible.
