The future of food security lies greatly on sustainable agriculture. It is a given that practicing sustainable agriculture in the urban areas comes a bit harder compared in the rural zones because of the availability of land for farming.
It is in this light that the SM Prime Holdings (SMPH), through SM Foundation (SMFI), recently mobilized its efforts to bring the SMFI’s Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) on Sustainable Agriculture program to 50 Pasay City residents, majority of which are members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
The KSK program aims to equip farmer-participants with knowledge and skills on modern urban farming techniques that will allow them to bring food on their tables and eventually, enable them to establish their own agri-enterprises. Aside from the agri training, the trainees will also be assisted in creating markets through various SM Business Units and government agencies.
This effort was also made possible through a sustained social good collaboration with the City Government of Pasay, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Speaking before the farmer-participants and representatives of its partner organizations through a virtual platform, SMFI Trustee Engr. Ramon Gil Macapagal underscored the Foundation’s goal and ambition for its host communities: “Palagi naming inaasam sa SM Foundation ang ganitong panahon na aming maisusulong sa ating komunidad ang isang programang gaya nito pong KSK. Kami ay may ambisyon na tayo ay umunlad sa pamamagitan ng ating likas kaya na pamamaraan.”
He further explained that aside from the KSK program, SM through its corporate social arm–SM Foundation–reaches its host communities by its social good programs focused on education, health and wellness, and disaster response.
The KSK program complements Pasay City’s Urban Farm tourism program that intends to promote a clean and green Pasay City through various urban farming methods like vertical and plastic container gardening by showcasing successful “greening” projects at the barangay level.
To date, the program has trained more than 28,100 farmers from more than 900 cities/municipalities nationwide.
