Three new community-based agricultural programs were launched recently by SM Foundation in different barangays in Nasugbu, Batangas.

These are being undertaken following the success of its livelihood program ‘Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers’ Training Program’ which has been focusing on the production of vegetables and other high-value crops.

The new agricultural programs are carabao raising/dispersal, native/ organic chicken raising, and hog raising. These are designed to provide more sustainable employment and livelihood schemes that aim to increase incomes of rural households, enabling them to become self-sufficient.

Various training programs are provided to enhance and develop the skills of the community while marketing support is provided with the help of partner agencies to enable beneficiaries to venture into the economic mainstream. These programs are conducted utilizing available resources in the locality.

SM Foundation tapped the Nasugbu municipal agricultural office as its partner in the carabao project, tapping beneficiaries from 10 households in Brgys. Calayo, Bulihan, Papaya and Looc. It is a long-term project requiring beneficiaries to plant napier grass used as carabao feed, and to attend a carabao raising seminar. One female carabao per household will be lent to be artificially inseminated. Once a calf is born, the mother carabao will be transferred to another household beneficiary. The beneficiary gets the opportunity to own the carabao eventually.

The free-range chicken program was launched on November 20 last year and will end on March 20, with 42 households from Brangays Looc and Bulihan as beneficiaries. Three sets of community women were trained on how to raise native chicken. SM Foundation provides 40 chicks, 125 kilos of feeds and 25 kilos of corn and other essentials in raising chicken.

Ownership of the chicks and supplies remains with the foundation until harvest time. Proceeds of the program will go to the beneficiaries and shall be solely used for supply replenishment thus ensuring livelihood’s sustainability.

Swine production accounts for majority of the total livestock production in the Philippines. Despite difficulties facing the swine industry, many people still venture into this enterprise, some starting with backyard farming.

To help those interested in raising hogs but do not have enough capital to start the business, SM Foundation launched its hog dispersal program in November last year. Starting with Brgy. Bulihan, 20 beneficiaries were given one female piglet each. After six months, the piglets are artificially inseminated by personnel from the municipal agriculture office then one female piglet in every three piglets born shall be returned to the Foundation which in turn awards the piglets to the next batch of beneficiaries.

SM Foundation has also scheduled other programs to be undertaken in Nasugbu this year, including sugarcane juice processing and herbal products processing in collaboration with Carica Foundation. Activities will also be launched to assist those who will take up livelihood business ventures along the shores. Lastly, steps are being undertaken to build a skills training center/multipurpose hall so that all seminars pertaining to skills training and entrepreneurship will be centrally located in one place.

SM Foundation has tied up with partner agencies in the implementation of these livelihood programs. These include government offices as well as private organizations.