The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 02’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in partnership with SM Foundation Inc. launched the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers Training Program at Aparri and Lallo, Cagayan on April 11-12, 2018.

The endeavor was also in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Harbest Agribusiness Corporation, SM Supermarket and the Local Government Units of Lal-lo and Aparri.

The concept started back in 2006 when SM Group Founder, Mr. Henry Sy, Sr., thought of ways to uplift the standard of living of small Filipino farmers.  To date, more than 5,200 participants graduated from the program covering 47 sites all over the country where SM stores are located.

The said activity  was attended by 171 SLP participants from the municipalities of Lal-lo and Aparri together with other qualified small farmers in the community. It aims to provide farmers with updated agricultural farm technology on high value crops so that they can produce a bountiful harvest even on limited space. It also aims to enhance the profitability of the farmers so that they can provide more food on their tables.

The program involves three to four months-long technical, modular and classroom lecture coupled with hands-on training on high value crop production. It also teaches product development, marketing and basic bookkeeping to further the capacities of the participants.

An entrepreneurial skills training will be conducted by SLP coinciding with the agricultural training that will be conducted by Harbest Agriculture. ### By: Melisen Taquiqui, SLP Social Marketing Officer