Laoag: At least eight farmers associations, most of them with indigent members from this city and Dingras town, have accepted the challenge to become agripreneurs through the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan farming program. This initiative aims to empower 200 farmer-participants by providing them with 14 weeks of hands-on lectures covering modern farming methods, marketing, and business principles to enhance their agricultural knowledge and skills, ultimately improving their living conditions.
According to Philippines News Agency, each farmers association, consisting of 25 members, will engage in practical agriculture at designated demonstration sites under the guidance of accredited trainers. Participants will develop livelihood proposals with a seed capital of PHP500,000, supported by Ilocos Norte Reps. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos and Angelo Marcos Barba, and various government agencies including the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry, among others.
The program is spearheaded by SM Foundation Inc., in collaboration with government bodies and local government units, and is backed by a PHP10 million grant from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Project Lawa at Binhi. Rogerio Bismonte III, DSWD partnership officer in the Ilocos Region, highlighted the success of past program graduates who have become agri-entrepreneurs and formed millionaire cooperatives.
“We are so thankful to be part of this program. We expanded our learning in organic farming particularly on high-value crops production,” expressed Maethelyn Casal, an early beneficiary of the Kabalikat program in Barangay Bacsil. She emphasized the program’s contribution to opening various marketing opportunities, enhancing their income.
Ferdinand Claro, president of the Lataag Farmers Association, shared that their group is using a PHP500,000 grant to expand their poultry raising and organic farm production, promoting healthy living and environmental sustainability.
As the next batch of farmers begins their training, Bismonte reiterated the importance of public and private collaboration to address hunger and poverty. He pointed to the program’s aim to establish agricultural enterprises that meet the demands of government-led feeding programs and participate in SM weekend markets to reach broader audiences.
To sustain similar initiatives, Barba emphasized the need for institutionalizing sustainable livelihood programs to benefit not only farmers but also fishermen. Meanwhile, Cristina Angeles, assistant vice president of SM Foundation Inc., encouraged new trainees to leverage the support services provided to become agripreneurs contributing to the nation’s economic growth.