SM Foundation Opens Training for Sustainable Agriculture in Bulacan

The SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan on Sustainable Agriculture Program officially opens in Angat, Bulacan. Gracing the event are LGU officials led by Mayor Reynante Bautista (front row, center), SM City Baliwag Assistant Mall Manager Eugene Martin (front row, 4th from left), partner government agencies, service providers, and the farmer beneficiaries from Barangay San Roque of the said town.

At least 111 farmer trainees are looking forward to attaining food sufficiency, sustainable livelihood, entrepreneurial development, and market linkages with the launch of the SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan on Sustainable Agriculture Program in Bulacan.

In partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), DSWD, TESDA, DOST, DTI, DOT, DOLE, Merryland Integrated Farm & Training Center Inc., as well as SM Markets and SM Supermalls, the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan will benefit beneficiaries from Barangay Loma de Gato and Sta. Rosa 2 in Marilao and Barangay San Roque in Angat.

SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan training in Bulacan will focus mainly on rural farming, in which the trainees will undergo 15-week coaching conducted hand in hand by assigned trainers, government agencies, SM Markets, and SM Supermalls. The training will tackle several facets of farming, including land preparation, seedling, fertilizer concoction, sustainability workshops and forums, financial literacy and bookkeeping, pricing and costing, as well as product development.

SM City Marilao signals the opening of the SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan, benefiting at least 51 farmer trainees in the town. The project is in partnership with the Marilao LGU, Department of Agriculture (DA), DSWD, TESDA, DOST, DTI, DOT, DOLE, Merryland Integrated Farm & Training Center Inc., as well as SM Markets and SM Supermalls.

During the KSK launch in Barangay San Roque in Angat, Bulacan, Mayor Reynante Bautista stressed that the SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan project is timely and will widely benefit farmers in the town. “Generally, 80% ng mga mamamayan sa bayan ng Angat ay agrikultura parin ang ikinabubuhay kung kaya’t napapanahon ang mabigyan sila ng mga tamang programa, at kaalaman na may kinalaman sa makabagong agrikultura,” shares Mayor Bautista.

Meanwhile, Mr. Wilfredo Santiago of the Marilao Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) emphasized the relevance of promoting sustainability as a key to food security in the community.

This year’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan on Sustainable Agriculture Program in Bulacan will run until October 2024.