TACLOBAN CITY- Farmers from the supertyphoon Yolanda ravaged towns of Tanauan and Barugo, both in Leyte, received training on farming of high value crops, fruits and vegetable farming initiated by the SM Foundation in partnership with Harbest Agribusiness Corporation (HAC).
The 12-weeks training, dubbed as Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers’ Training Program, was participated by close to 200 farmers coming from different barangays of the two towns, said Cristie Angeles, SM associate vice president for livelihood said.
Also present during the training was Toto Barcelona, president of the HAC, provincial agriculturist Rogelio Portula, town agriculturist Niceforo Liberato and Virginia Idano, assistant regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Angeles said that the HAC is a program partner since the training program was conceptualized that provides the manpower and specialist who impart modern techniques’ in farming.
Angeles also said that their training program, started in 2007, is a dual technology training in high-value crops in vegetable and fruit farming intended to provide updated agricultural technology to farmers thereby empowering them, not only to earn more income but also to be self-sufficient in food.
The program includes provision for market linkages in cooperation with SM Food Group and Supermalls (SM-FGS), DSWD, Department of Agriculture, local government units and non-government organizations.
The funding for the training under the program was provided by SM Foundation in which they have also provide the seedlings used in the actual training at the demo- farm provided by the local government. Capacity building and entrepreneurial skills are also incorporated in the training.
Many of the farmers who finished the12-weeks-hands-on training program are to replicate what they have learned in their own farm lots. (RYAN GABRIELL ARCENAS)
