SMC expands urban farms beyond Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is expanding its urban farm initiative beyond Luzon as it recently established its first backyard farm site in the Visayas to support local food security.

SMC said its Backyard Bukid initiative, launched at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, already has nine sites nationwide.

The program was first rolled out to provide food for the conglomerate’s utility and security personnel who were stranded at its headquarters in Mandaluyong.

Since then, the initiative has evolved into a community-based organic farming program in several areas through San Miguel Foundation Inc.

The latest site established by SMC was at Antipolo Elementary School in Albuera, Leyte, marking the first urban farm site in the Visayas. The farm site, which has 25 community farmers composed of parents, barangay officials and school staff, acts as a support program for health, nutrition and livelihood in the area.

“I am proud of our teamwork here in Backyard Bukid and what we’ve learned in making our own organic inputs,” said Jonathan Dimailig, a community farmer.

“We really developed a strong sense of community, which is why our farm has been very productive,” he added.

In March, another urban farm site was launched at the Soyung Elementary School in Echague, Isabela.

The site, which is being managed by an all-women group, was established with the help of non-government organization SEED Philippines, which has been SMC’s partner in training its volunteers in organic farming.

“We’re excited to see how this farm will continue to grow in Isabela under its all-female team,” SMC chairman and CEO Ramon Ang said.

“More than managing a source of food for their families, their taking charge of this livelihood project is a strong statement for the role of women not just in the family but in the community,” Ang said.

To date, the nine SMC Backyard Bukid farms have already produced more than 4,300 kilos of assorted crops and generated additional income for 155 active employee and community farmers.

Some of the farms’ produce are lettuce, bok choy, kangkong, eggplant, lady finger, tomato, moringa, kalamansi, basil, arugula and oregano, alongside fruit-bearing crops including banana and papaya.

San Miguel Foods plans to develop more Backyard Bukid sites in public elementary schools in Bulacan, Iloilo and Misamis Oriental. Furthermore, SMC’s San Miguel Properties is setting up its own community-managed farm in Brgy. Tagabuli, Santa Cruz in Davao del Sur.

The conglomerate’s urban farm sites practice organic and sustainable farming by using natural alternatives to chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.

“Our Backyard Bukids are a showcase of the initiative, teamwork and resilience of our employee and community volunteers, which San Miguel is proud to support and encourage through the years,” Ang said.

“We will continue to replicate these farms in other areas to provide healthier food options and additional income for families, and turn idle land into a shared space for learning and sustainable livelihood — and a stronger community in the process,” Ang added.