CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – A Farmer’s Market has opened at the SM City Telabastagan in this premier city, offering fresh produce to mall goers and locals every Friday and Saturday – for the rest of the year.
Manning the market are the 22nd batch of farmers who graduated from SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) program, a multi-stakeholder project which continues to enhance farmer’s skills by encouraging them to become entrepreneurs amidst economic challenges, changing weather conditions, and limited planting space and resources.
The farmers from Lara in this city and nearby Calibutbut in Bacolor town were trained in planting and maintaining high-value crops. Though the KSK, the farmer graduates are then provided market exposure through pop-up booths.
KSK’s Sustainable Agriculture Program aims to bring sustainable farming technologies and training in both rural and urban communities to help farmers bring food on their table while creating economic opportunities for them.
“The program does not end on the graduation, rather it’s the start of the continuous support,” says SMFI AVP Cristie Angeles.
Leading the ribbon cutting ceremonies during the opening were SM City Telabastagan mall manager Lana Erroba, DTI Pampanga director Elenita Ordonio, and DSWD-3 Sustainable Livelihood Program Officer Ferdie Canlas.
