SM Sta. Rosa holds 2nd Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Graduation

Graduates of the 2nd Batch of Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan Farmers Training Program proudly display their certificates during graduation day. With them in photo are (from L-R) SM Brand Manager Armind Cajala; City Agriculturist Engr. Eusebio Cajucom; SM Supermarket Store Manager Ronnie Rangasa; SM Sta. Rosa Mall Manager Dominador Caringal Jr. (3rd from right); SM Foundation AVP Christie Angeles and Harbest Agribusiness President Arsenio Barcelona.

Vegetable and fruit growers of Brgy. Macabling in Sta. Rosa Laguna celebrated the ending of the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers Training Program, a three-month training program given by SM Foundation and Harbest Agribusiness, via a graduation ceremony held at the Event Center of SM City Sta. Rosa last June 23, 2010 .

More than 50 local farmers were given certificates of completion by SM Foundation’s Assistant Vice President Christie Angeles and Harbest Agribusiness President Arsenio Barcelona. Also present during the event was Ronnie Rangasa, Store Manager of SM Supermarket in SM Sta. Rosa who pledged his support by providing the farmers a space inside the supermarket where they can sell their crops. The farmers, on the other hand, gave their assurance that they will be providing SM with fruits and vegetables of the best quality.

The Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers Training Program, is a project of SM Foundation whose main aim is to help local farmers produce high-quality, off-season fruits and vegetables year-round, using simple and do-able technology taught by Harbest. Part of the program trained farmers on how to grow seedlings using F1-hybrid seeds from Known-You in seedling trays with the growing medium Growell. Aside from this, farmers also learned the proper technique on how to do land preparation with basal fertilization, pruning, irrigation and fertilization; pest and diseases identification and control; proper harvesting and general farm management. The program was started late 2007 and has since supported hundreds of local farmers in areas where there is an SM Supermall. Local farmers of Brgy. Macabling, Sta. Rosa Laguna enjoying the day's harvest. The day's harvest consisted of watermelons, honey dews, string beans (sitaw), green finger peppers (siling haba), eggplants, bitter melons (ampalaya), bottle gourd (upo), and loofah (patola). SM Foundation Assistant Vice President Christie Angeles (center) together with SM City Sta. Rosa Public Relations Officer Pamela Baun (right).


Sta. Rosa City Head Agriculturist Engr. Eusebio Cajucom, supervising agriculturist Joselito Batitis, SM Sta. Rosa Mall Manager Dominador Caringal Jr. and SM Marketing Brand Manager Armind Cajala were likewise present during the event. Some of the vegetables which were sold and displayed during the event inlcuded the Jade Dragon hybrid amplaya, Amargozo Jade Dragon, Fond Long talong, Green Arrow yardlong sitaw, the Phoenix solo kalabasa, honey dew, siling haba, and watermelon.

The Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers Training Program ran for approximately 90 days and included seminars and actual planting and harvesting. The Program is a project of the SM Foundation Inc., in partnership with Harbest Agribusiness Corporation, the Department of Agrarian Reform, the Department of Agriculture and TechGen with support from the Local Government of Sta. Rosa.