Growing Hope: SM Empowers Small Farmers for a Greener Tomorrow

In the heart of the countryside, a quiet revolution is taking root—one backyard at a time. Through the SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) Farming Program, thousands of smallholder farmers are discovering new ways to grow not only better crops but brighter futures.

Launched to bridge knowledge gaps in rural farming communities, KSK has already trained over 32,000 farmers nationwide, with groupwide initiatives—together with Philippine Geothermal Production Company—benefiting more than 49,000 to date. In 2025, this reach will extend further into underserved provinces across Northern Mindanao, Bicol, and the Visayas, bringing practical, sustainable farming skills where they’re needed most.

“By investing in farmers, we’re investing in communities,” shares Cristie Angeles, SM Foundation Assistant Vice President for Livelihood and Outreach Programs. Beyond teaching backyard and small-scale farming techniques, KSK opens doors for farmers to join local markets and SM’s supplier network—laying the groundwork for steady, long-term income.

The impact is visible in SM’s bustling Weekend Markets, where fresh produce grown by KSK graduates finds eager customers in malls, turning once-remote harvests into everyday essentials for urban shoppers. Meanwhile, through PGPC, SM also champions urban agriculture with projects like community gardens in partnership with the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems, nurturing green spaces even in city settings.

Aligned with Asian Development Bank findings that smallholder farmers form the backbone of food systems, these initiatives reflect SM’s broader mission: to foster inclusive growth from the ground up. By connecting farmers to knowledge, markets, and modern techniques, SM is sowing seeds of progress—ensuring that local agriculture thrives, communities prosper, and every harvest tells a story of hope.