Nagueño farmers to get sustainable agri livelihood

By Keren Anne Bernadas

A total of 25 farmers from Brgy. Triangulo, this city will undergo 14 weeks of sustainable agricultural interventions and livelihood through the recently launched Kabalikat sa Kabuhay (KSK) on Sustainable farmers’ training program on Friday, July 7, at SM City Naga, here.

The KSK on Sustainable Agriculture Program is one of the flagship initiatives of SM Foundation which aims to equip beneficiaries from poor communities with basic farming skills to create potential income, acquire food security and ensure environmental sustainability.

SM City Naga Mall Manager Jeanette De Vera said the knowledge and experience that the participants will get from this program will equip them to produce income and establish sustainable livelihood. She stressed that this endeavor was inspired by the idea of Filipino business tycoon and SM owner Henry Sy who believe that cultivating agricultural practices will help Filipino families to rise from poverty.

In his speech, City Agriculturist Frank Mendoza told the beneficiaries that the main objective of this collaboration among government agencies and the SM Foundation is not only to provide them livelihood but to uplift the lives of people through agriculture. Additionally, he said that it is important for farmers to become businessmen and acquire knowledge on how to gain profit rather than learning only basic farming.

The program is in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Tourism, Technical Education Skills and Development Authority, and the city government here.

DA-Bicol Field Operations Division Chief Dr. Mary Grace DP. Rodriguez said their department commits to provide farming tools, and practices, seeds, planting kits and equipment needed for the training.

“Urban gardening has now become a trend but is also beneficial to the community because it maximizes the limited space for food production and sustainability. The common plants for urban farming in the Bicol region are low-land vegetables which are used as ingredients for Filipino dish, [such as] Pinakbet, as well as those early maturing crops, easily harvested and cash crops. (PIA5/Camarines Sur)