SMFI expands KSK program in Tarlac, Pampanga towns
SM Foundation’s Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan ( KSK) on SusM tainable Agriculture expanded its reach by welcoming new batches of farmer trainees in Tarlac and Pampanga.
Even before the CovidM19 pandemic, the KSK program aimed to provide the marginM alized farmers with agriMbased skill sets and livelihood opporM tunities through market linkM ages, enabling them to secure healthy food for their family and even for their communities.
The recent KSK launches were held at Castro Tomas Farm School in Camiling, Tarlac; St. Isidore “The Farmer” Learning Center in Sta. Ana, Pampanga; and Talete Ping Panyolong KaM pampangan, Inc. (TPKI) in San Fernando, Pampanga.
SM Foundation noted that soM cial distancing, wearing of masks, and other health and safety proM tocols were observed during the onsite launch. Others attended virtually via an online videoconM ferencing platform.
In her speech, SMFI AVP for outreach programs Cristie Angeles shared that in the past months, KSK farmer- graduates from Sta. Ana, Pampanga were able to sell their produce to SMDC condo owners under the Good Guys Market — which is a collaboration between the developer giant and SMFI. This initiative meant to not only help ensure food security of condo residents but also proM vide livelihood to local farmers during this pandemic.
This was seconded by SM MarM kets SAVP Reynaldo del Valle in his video message for the farmers.
Through the collective efM forts of SM Foundation and different government and nonM government organizations, the program was recently further enhanced and now provides greater learning opportuniM ties, including the inclusion of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority ( Tesda) scholarship, and market expoM sure for the participants.
To date, the program has trained more than 26,700 farmers from almost 3,360 barangays in 880 cities/municipalities.