Eighty-five farmers from Bacolod City and its neighboring towns and cities completed a three-month training course on high value vegetables production under the SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan program yesterday at SM City Bacolod.
 
The program was initiated by SM Foundation Incorporated in collaboration with HARBEST Agribusiness Inc. headed by Arsenio Barcelona, the Department of Agriculture, and the LGUs.     
 
The program aims to help farmers improve and increase their productivity and income  through application of modern  technology, like the use of plastic green house and mulch, use of organic  fertilizers and pesticides.  
 
SM Bacolod public relation manager May Castro said yesterday that the graduates of Batch 96 trained in the demo farm of the City Agriculture Office in Brgy. Alijis in Bacolod City.
 
Castro said they started with 150 farmers but only 85 completed the course. SM funds the program and HARBEST provides the seeds to the farmers.
 
The program aims to help farmers become suppliers to SM food groups, she said.
 
City Agriculture Office head Goldwyn Nifras said the actual training started first week of August with the assistance of the Department of Social Services and Development and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program.
 
Nifras said they will work with the farmers to provide them inputs so they can start and do their own organic vegetable projects in their areas, wherever they are.
 
Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella said they plan to set aside a budget so each barangay can send a representative to enroll in the program.*CGS