KSK equips farmers with modern techniques

JAYSON Garcia and Juanito de la Cruz from Pampanga have benefited from the training provided by the SM Foundation's Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) to farmers to increase their crop yield and income.

«Before, it was a challenge to farm. What I knew was the old way of farming — just plant and wait for it to produce a yield,» Garcia said in Filipino.

«It was like relying on chance before, and sometimes you get good yield and you get good earnings. But sometimes, there is almost none,» he added.

Jayson Garcia (left) and Juanito de la Cruz have benefited from the training provided by the SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan to increase their yields. SM FOUNDATION PHOTO

When Garcia learned that the SM Foundation was conducting training focused on high-value crop cultivation, he knew this was the breakthrough he needed to update his farming techniques.

During the training, Garcia learned a range of farming techniques including selecting the best seeds and caring for them, as well as strategic planting schedules. He was also introduced to innovative methods for utilizing the space in his rice field, allowing him to cultivate a diverse range of vegetables and fruits.

Aside from modern agricultural strategies, the Pampanga-based farmer also said that he gained invaluable lessons in business and marketing from his time at KSK. He added that he has since discovered alternative sales channels that have enabled him to enhance his earning potential while extending fair prices to customers.

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«Before joining KSK, the traders and other buyers took my harvests from my home. But I learned that I can distribute and sell my own harvest. I also managed to sell online,» he said in Filipino.

Equipped with new knowledge from KSK, Garcia gained more confidence to expand his farm. And he now earns more than P25,000 a month.

Garcia's main crop is rice while a variety of vegetables — including lemongrass, malunggay and madre de cacao — are sold online to small businesses that process them into value-added products.

KSK has further opened Garcia's interest in attending other seminars that will introduce him to more good agricultural practices, which he actively shares with his fellow