SM Foundation farmer-beneficiary now an agripreneur
WITH THE advent of modern practices, agriculture is undergoing a transformation, emerging as a field ripe with profitability and positive impact. This was also the hope of visionary and SM Group Founder Henry “Tatang” Sy Sr., when he established SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) on Sustainable Agriculture program in 2007.
Since its inception, the program has been empowering low-income farmers by providing training in modern farming techniques. KSK has equipped nearly 30,000 individuals across the Philippines with the tools and knowledge to improve their livelihoods and foster food security in their communities.
Today, many KSK graduates have found success as agripreneurs, including Virgie Gonda, a KSK Batch 221 alumna from Tarlac City.
With years of tilling the same soil her father, a farmer, worked hard on — yielding a meager harvest of P10,000 despite tireless sweat — Ms. Gonda knew it was time to plant new seeds of hope. She took the opportunity to learn modern farming techniques from KSK with SM Foundation’s partner school St. Isidore ‘the FARMer’ Learning Center, Inc. —a decision that would change her life. Through the 14-week training period, she absorbed everything there is to learn—from farming techniques to the basics of business.
“Sa tingin ko, isa ito sa nakatulong sa amin dahil nakabawas siya sa gastusin. Mula doon, unti-unting naayos ang lupang sakahan at maganda rin ang ani ng gulay at palay. Natuto rin kami ng techniques kung saan pwede kaming magtanim ng gulay tuwing off-season ang palay,” she shared.
“Dito rin kami natuto na hindi lang pala farm-to-market ang pwedeng avenue ng pagtitinda. Kung dati, puro palabas lang kami ng puhunan at ‘di namin alam kung saan dadalhin ang mga tira naming gulay, ngayon, nagagawa na naming i-process ang mga ito para walang masayang, mapatagal ang shelf life, at makadagdag pa sa kita,” she added.
Above all that she learned, it is the life principles of Mr. Sy, Sr. that pushed her to go further. “‘Work hard and have a great passion to achieve,’” she shared. “Hindi pwede na magtatrabaho ka ngayon at bahala na bukas. Kailangan may plano ka kung papaano makakamtan ang iyong mithiin.”
From tending to a small patch of mushrooms, Ms. Gonda’s business flourished, bearing fruit to the tune of P30,000 each month. The Farmer’s Market Day in SM City Tarlac became the launchpad of her mushroom chicharon. Her entrepreneurial spirit grew just like the mushrooms she cultivated, soon expanding her offerings to include banana and kamote chips, and fruit vinegars sold in events, bazaars, and as company giveaways.
As her business expanded, she shared her knowledge with the community.