SM cultivates livelihood opportunities for smallholder farmers

SM cultivates livelihood opportunities for smallholder farmers

The SM Group continues to promote inclusive development by providing smallholder farmers with practical, long-term farming skills, allowing them to improve their livelihoods and boost food security within their communities.

At the heart of this program is the SM Foundation's Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) Farming Programme, which has trained 32,359 farmers.  In total, the SM Foundation and Philippine Geothermal Production Company, among others, have trained approximately 49,000 farmers statewide.

The KSK initiative will expand to more rural towns by 2025, including underserved areas in Northern Mindanao, Bicol, and parts of Visayas, bringing opportunities closer to those who need them the most.

“We believe inclusive growth starts at the community level. By investing in smallholder farmers, we are not only helping secure local food supply chains but also creating pathways to improved quality of life in the rural sector.” ~Cristie Angeles, SM Foundation’s Assistant Vice President for Livelihood and Outreach Programs

Through hands-on learning, KSK provides participants with practical backyard and small-scale farming strategies for increasing crop quality and yield.  More crucially, the program connects them to local marketplaces and SM's larger supplier network, promoting cooperative formation and allowing agricultural families to earn more stable, long-term incomes. 

These initiatives are consistent with data from the Asian Development Bank, which identified smallholder farmers as the backbone of food systems in poor countries, accounting for 84% of all farms and producing approximately one-third of the world's food.  In the Philippines, where many people farm less than a hectare of land, access to information, technology, and markets is important.

To strengthen market ties, SM established the SM Weekend Market, a platform that allows local farmers and agripreneurs to directly sell their produce in high-traffic mall locations.  The weekend market connects local farmers with new clientele, including everyday shoppers, mall employees, and tenants.

SM's commitment to the community extends across all of its businesses.  Through the Philippine Geothermal Production Company (PGPC), SM promotes urban agriculture programs in collaboration with the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems, promoting sustainable gardening and selecting farm locations for long-term development.

These programs reflect the SM Group's broader objective of serving as a partner for inclusive growth by developing real, inclusive possibilities that promote rural development, empower livelihoods, and build local economies.

About SM Investments Corporation

SM Investments Corporation is one of the leading Philippine companies that is invested in market-leading businesses in retail, banking, and property. It also invests in ventures that capture high growth opportunities in the emerging Philippine economy.

SM’s retail operations are the country’s largest and most diversified, consisting of grocery stores, department stores and specialty retail stores. SM’s property arm, SM Prime Holdings, Inc., is the largest integrated property developer in the Philippines with interests in malls, residences, offices, hotels, and convention centers as well as tourism-related property developments. SM’s interests in banking are in BDO Unibank, Inc., the country’s largest bank, and China Banking Corporation, the fourth largest private domestic bank.

For more information, please visit www.sminvestments.com

For inquiries, please contact: smic_corpcomm@sminvestments.com