The efforts of the city government of San Pedro, Laguna under Mayor Art Mercado to become “Una sa Laguna” in the field of urban agriculture has gotten a boost from the private sector.
Recently, SM Foundation Inc., in partnership with other government agencies and the San Pedro City LGU, conducted an orientation on its "Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan on Sustainable Agriculture” program to farmer-beneficiaries under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The "Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan" program is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program of SM Foundation aims to bring modern and sustainable farming skills in both rural and urban communities to help farmers have food on their table and have potential economic opportunities.
To date, the program has trained more than 28,500 farmers from more than 900 cities and municipalities nationwide.
Over 100 beneficiaries
According to Engr. King Layola, head of the San Pedro City Agriculture Office, at least four sites were chosen in San Pedro City for the "Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan" urban agriculture program: two in Sitio Bayan-Bayanan in Barangay San Vicente and two in Barangay Landayan.
The program is expected to benefit a total of 120 4Ps beneficiaries, 60 of whom are coming from Bayan-Bayanan and another 60 from Landayan.
“Ang minimum na requirement po [ng SM Foundation] para sa program at 400 square meters for the demo sites, with sufficient water source and with identified 4Ps beneficiaries living in the area,” Layola explained in a message to OpinYon Laguna.
Aside from free assistance to beneficiaries, SM Foundation will also capacitate 4Ps to produce high value crops, teach them post-harvest processing and marketing as well, according to the official.
“4Ps [beneficiaries] will gain knowledge on financial literacy and prepare them to be agripreneur. SM Foundation will provide marketing links to this group of 4P and this will give a big boost to the agri sector in terms of captured market,” he said.
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