Young KSK Farmer: Isa na akong agripreneur

In the Philippines, farming has become an aging trade, with most farmers now in their 50s and beyond. Yet, as fields face an uncertain future, a few young hands are stepping forward to revitalize the land and redefine the future of agriculture.

Among these emerging young farmers is 22-year-old Dan Sotelo from Brgy. San Miguel, Talakag, Bukidnon, who has found his way back to agriculture with renewed purpose. Through SM Foundation’s farmer training program, Dan has rekindled his passion for farming, stepping up as part of a new generation determined to bring life and resilience back to the fields.

Embracing new farming techniques with an open mind

Helping his parents on their farm since he was 14, he became passionate about farming. After finishing senior high school, financial challenges stood in the way of his dream to attend college. Dan still remained focused on his goal of one day pursuing a degree in agriculture. He decided to start building his skills and earn enough to eventually make that dream a reality.

“I love farming,” Dan said, despite the many struggles that come with it. His family, like many farmers, has faced the uncertainty of seasonal harvests and inconsistent income.

“Ang farming ay seasonal. Dahil dito, ang nasa isip namin ay parang sugal ang pagtatanim–minsan meron, minsan wala. Minsan, maganda ang iyong tanim, minsan hindi. Ang dating practice dito ay ‘Magtatanim ako ngayon. Bahala na kung may maani ako o wala’,” he shared.

The Sotelo family is one of the beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Sustainable Livelihood Program, which introduced them to SM Foundation’s Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) Farmer’s Training Program. This became a turning point for them, renewing not only their farming techniques but their entire outlook on agriculture.

“Noong natuto na kami sa KSK, naiba ang aming pananaw at diskarte,” Dan explained. “Sa pagtatanim, dapat mina-manage o pinaplano ‘yung itatanim para magkaroon tayo ng magandang profit. Kailangan aralin mo ‘yung produktong itatanim mo.”

Prior to joining the program, the family had tried various farming methods without much success, including the use of synthetic fertilizers. While effective at first, this approach eventually led to their soil becoming acidic and diminishing their harvests over time.

Through the KSK training, he and his fellow farmers learned the importance of sustainable farming practices. He now creates his own organic fertilizers and botanical pesticides, using natural ingredients like neem and sunflower concoctions, as well as baking soda and vinegar fungicides.

Organic farming has allowed them to optimize their resources while protecting the long-term health of their land: “Sa pag-gamit po ng organikong pataba at pesticides, hindi na namin kailangan pang gumastos para makabili ng synthetic inputs sa Cagayan De Oro o kalapit na bayan. Bukod sa nakatipid na po kami, nakakasiguro po kami na pangmatagalan ang kalusugan ng lupa namin.”

On top of new farming techniques, the KSK introduced Dan to the basics of entrepreneurship, helping him understand the importance of planning and market forecasting. He learned to assess demand and align their crop production with market needs to avoid losses from oversupply

Renewed mindset, new opportunities

“Nagbago ang pananaw at confidence ko sa pagtatanim. Isa na akong agripreneur,” he said proudly. “Kaya na namin magtanim kahit hindi kalakihan ang kapital mo sa simula, basta’t alam mo ang proper farming techniques, diskarte, at potensyal ng organic farming.”

This new mindset paid off in early October when Dan and his fellow KSK farmers from Brgy. San Miguel and Brgy. Miarayon began supplying SM Markets’ In-Season Specials section in SM City CDO Uptown and SM CDO Downtown.

They sold 60 kilos of bell peppers, 200 kilos of potatoes, and 100 kilos of carrots, successfully selling to a broader market and bringing in over 18,000 pesos.

This initiative is part of SM Group’s mission to uplift its partner farmers by connecting them with market opportunities and advancing food security. Through programs like this, SM intends to improve the livelihoods of local farmers and encourage sustainable agricultural practices across communities.

“Kung may pintong bubukas, i-grab mo,” he said as he encouraged the youth to open their hearts to farming.