SM veggie training goes on and on
The SM Foundation’s seasonlong vegetable training program for farmers and marginalized families is about the most suistained program of its kind, helping a lot of people to uplift their economic status by learning how to grow improved varieties of vegetables and other highvalue crops.
The Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) project which was started in Bacolod City about eight years ago, has continued to this day in collaboration with Harbest Agribusiness Corporation and later with the Department of Social Welfare and Development as well as some local government units.
One of the latest batches, Batch 186, was undertaken in Brgy. Sal-ing in Balilihan, Bohol where 186 persons completed the season-long dual tech training. The trainees were taught how to produce quality vegetables using improved techniques that included the recommended seed varieties, use of plastic seedling trays for seedling production, plastic mulch to conserve soil moisture during the dry months and to prevent waterlogging during the rainy season. The plastic mulch also prevents erosion and weed growth.
Earlier, two batches from Nueva Ecija and Zambales also completed their 12-week training that comprised Batches 182 and 183. Batch 182 consisted of 104 graduates that held their harvest festival at Brgy. Caaninalpihan, Talavera, Nueva Ecija. In Batch 183, 92 participants completed their training in Brgy. Palanginan, Iba. The participants were composed of farmers, 4Ps, IPs and senior citizens from different barangays.
The trainees are not only trained to produce vegetables for their own food security but also for sale in the market so that they can derive income for their other basic needs. One target is to produce quality vegetabees which they could sell through the SM supermarkets.