SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna, August 24 (PIA) — The SM Foundation, Inc., in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the City Agriculturist Office (CAO), recently launched “Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan” program. It aims to empower farmers by giving them training on planting commercial vegetables and short-term fruits production.

Held at Barangay San Rafael covered court, the training topics included land preparation, sowing and harvesting.

Around 119 farmers attended the said training. They were from the 19 barangays in San Pablo City and the municipalities of Bay, Nagcarlan and Binan. Trainees were divided into four groups and each tilled 16 plots and planted various assigned crops.

The technical briefing and hands-on training was done in 11 sessions. It started last August 10 at Cardil Village, Barangay Del Remedio.

Harbest Agribusiness Corp. provided the improved and double agricultural technology while the CAO, as the implementing office, provided the training, venue and facilitator.

Meanwhile, City Agriculturist Alex Dionglay said the graduation of participants will be held at SM City-San Pablo this September. (ACO, PIA-Laguna with reports from CIO-SPC)