Tarlac vegetable farmers to supply naturally-grown veggies to SM

MANILA, Philippines - SM Foundation, the charitable arm of the SM Group, has completed the training of several farmers in Tarlac who will be growing and selling their produce either directly or through consolidators to the SM Mall in Tarlac.

SM Foundation assistant vice president for livelihood Cristie Angeles said the training program intends to transform the vegetable farmers into regular suppliers of naturally-grown vegetables, which Metro Manila residents can only find in weekend markets.

“By partnering with the organized farmers, we hope to make the natural and safe vegetables regular items in our stores so that more Filipinos can have access to safe and natural foods at all times,” Angeles said.

At a pre-graduation ceremony last Thursday, the 200 farmer-participants from different parts of the province enjoyed the fruits of their 12-week field training (under Harvest Co. president Toto Barcelona) by harvesting Taiwan lettuce, Jadette ampalaya, eggplant, green (pansigang) pepper, honey dew melon, watermelon, tomatoes, string beans and more.

The farmers planted, under the guidance and tutorship of Barcelona, the natural vegetables in a 5,000-square meter land that was leased for free by Cirilo Lababit, former manager of Land Bank in Tarlac who is now an active farmer. He also took part in the training program.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala who visited the Capehan techno-demo farm last week, was so impressed by the outcome that he vowed to assist the Tarlac organic vegetable growers with their financing and seedling requirements, in addition to upgrading the irrigation facilities and canals.

Tarlac will also be hosting on Sept. 6 to 8, 2011 the 8th National Organic Agriculture Congress and the Capehan techno-demo farm will be expanded by the province to be the showcase for organic farmers of the country to observe and learn from.

Gov. Victor Yap, through the provincial agriculture office, has been vowed to continue supporting the farmers in all their needs, including finding more markets for their produce. His vision is to make Tarlac the vegetable center.

With the new planting technologies that they learned, the “graduates” many of them women, will grow these crops in their farms when they return to their barangays. If they choose to join the group that will supply SM, they will elect a leader, who will deal directly with SM Tarlac manager Princess Banaga.

They will sort and transport their produce directly to SM Tarlac, which will allow them to have a feel of merchandising, promoting, selling their own product themselves, Banaga said.

Angeles said she would send an accountant to teach the farmers proper accounting and bookkeeping so that they will know how their revenues are being spent for the sustainability of the business. “With proper accounting and bookkeeping you will be able to enjoy access to financing and other assistance,” she said.