Urdaneta City, Pangasinan - Twenty-seven indigent families from Barangay Nancayasan in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, members of the FARMaganda association, are set to receive a PHP500,000 grant to start an organic farm. This initiative is part of the government's effort to promote food sufficiency. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will provide the funding through its sustainable livelihood program.
According to Philippines News Agency, The beneficiaries are graduates of the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) project, a collaborative effort involving the SM Foundation, Inc. and various national government agencies including the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), DSWD, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Agricultural Training Institute - Ilocos Region, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
FARMaganda president Maricel Badua expressed gratitude for the opportunity and the knowledge gained in urban gardening. The funds will be used to rent a 6,000 square-meter land and purchase necessary equipment for their organic farming venture. The group currently sells their produce at the weekend market of SM City Urdaneta Central and plans to extend their sales to nearby government agencies. Any surplus produce will be processed with assistance from the DOST and DTI, while a portion will be donated to feeding programs. Additionally, they aim to participate in trade fairs with their organic products.
DTI Pangasinan director Natalia Dalaten highlighted that the program is designed not only to boost food production but also to help these families increase their income by transforming them into 'agripreneurs.' SM Foundation, Inc. Assistant Vice President Cristie Angeles emphasized the strengthened inter-agency cooperation to support these families. Regular quarterly meetings with inter-agency partners are planned to monitor progress and provide necessary interventions, focusing on self-help and sustainable development for the beneficiaries.