DA, SM Foundation, and Harbest Corp. conduct vegetable training for farmers
The Department of Agriculture, SM Foundation, Inc. and Harbest Agribusiness Corp. in a joint project “Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan” conducted a harvest festival on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at the DA-RIARC-LR, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.
The harvest festival is the culminating program of ten weeks of training on vegetable production which started on July 1, 2009. A total of 151 farmers and agricultural technicians participated in the training.
The aim of this training is based on the philosophy of SM Foundation which is “people helping people” according to Arsenio “Toto” Barcelona of Harbest Agribusiness Corp. He further stated that as SM scholars, the farmers have the responsibility to disseminate the knowledge they have learned to neighbors in the community in order to improve their livelihood.
The participants are taught not just as producers but entrepreneurs. They learned about marketing strategy, as well as scheduled planting in order to have sustainability of their produce.
“No one can take what you have learned and you will be responsible for your success as entrepreneurs. Whatever you do, put God as the center of your life,” said Mrs. Christine Angeles, executive Director of Outreach Program, SM Foundation to the participants.
SM Foundation is not only training the farmers on vegetable production but also on the physical welfare of farmers and their families. Thus, they are conducting medical missions by providing free x-ray, ECG and laboratory tests. They have mobile clinic manned by doctors and nurses according to Connie Angeles, Executive Director of Medical Health Program of SM Foundation.
The training can increase the income of farmers and improve the nutritional status of every family that consumes vegetable – as cheapest and nutritious source of vitamins and minerals.
Department of Agriculture Regional Technical Director Remelyn Recoter thanked the Sm Foundation and Harbest Agribusiness Corp. for taking initiatives in conducting this project. (EBR/DA-RFU)