Present during the launch were SMFI Outreach Programs AVP Ms. Cristie Angeles, Mayor Erlon C. Agustin of Camiling, TESDA Tarlac Provincial Director Engr. John B. Adawey,TESDA Training Indoctrination Program Officer Mr. Larry Perez, St. Isidore Farm School Owner Engr. Romeo Cordova, Castro-Tomas Agritechture Farm School owner Jhunn Castro, SM City Tarlac Mall Manager Darrel Ramos and SM Markets representatives
SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI), recently launched its 221st batch of Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) on Sustainable Agriculture Program in Castro-Tomas Agritechture Farm School, 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”, said Mayor Erlon C. Agustin of Camiling who especially graced the event.
The newly-formed group of different government and non-government organizations were able to consolidate resourceswhich helped enhanced 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 program goals include: Technical vocational trainings adapting new farming technologies and development of entrepreneurial skills that will led 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 5 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 Ms. Cristie Angeles, Mayor Erlon C. Agustin of Camiling,TESDA Tarlac Provincial Director Engr. John B. Adawey,TESDA Training Indoctrination Program Officer Mr. Larry Perez, St. Isidore Farm School Owner Engr. Romeo Cordova, and Castro-Tomas Agritechture Farm School owner Jhunn 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.
