The Department of Agriculture (DA) and SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on July 23, 2018, for the implementation of SMFI Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers’ Training Program which aims to provide season-long training on vegetable farming.

Agriculture Secretary Manny F. Piñol, together with Undersecretary for High Value Crops and Rural Credit Evelyn G. Laviña, led the signing together with SMFI Executive Director Deborah P. Sy, Harbest Agribusiness Corporation (HAC) President Arsenio G. Barcelona, Macondray Philippines Company Inc. (MPCI) President and CEO Martin Ignacio P. Lorenzo, and SMFI Assistant Vice President Cristina S. Angeles.

Under the agreement, fifty farmer-participants will undergo 12 sessions of hands-on training to be conducted by SMFI’s service providers. The participants will also be provided with technical support for selected applied agricultural technologies and post-training assistance such as farm tools, farm equipment, and other inputs.

DA thru its Regional Field Offices’ High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) will help in identifying the possible area of about 5,000 square meters for rural areas and 1,000 square meters for urban areas to serve as training farms. The proposed areas should be accessible, secure, flat but not prone to flooding during rainy season, and fertile. Areas that have existing irrigation pumps or canals, training room and storage shelter for supplies and products will be prioritized. The Regional HVCDP will also lead the coordination meeting with host LGUs.

SMFI, for its part, will administer the packaging and funding of training and will engage Harbest Agribusiness Corporation and Macondray Philippines Company Inc. as service providers. As such, Harbest and Macondray will provide a comprehensive project plan that will include the organization of farmers, site selection, names crops to be planted with cost and benefits chart, technology application, calendar of activities and course outline.

The service providers will provide all direct inputs needed for the planting of around 20 crops in identified sites nationwide such as seeds, plastic mulching film, seedling trays, growing medium, trellis net and other materials, and fertilizers, pests and diseases control supplies.

Piñol proposed Bohol to be the pilot area for the project to address the high prices of basic commodities in the province.

Source: DA, SM Foundation venture on nationwide training on vegetable farming project