By Roderick Abad and Rizal Raoul S. Reyes
AGRITECH social enterprise RiceUp and eco-group Green-Earth Heritage Foundation have partnered with BPI Foundation, the social innovation arm of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), to educate, empower and guide the farmers throughout its Farm to Table program.
The initiative seeks to increase the produce of local farmers via the latest climate-adaptive technologies to elevate and advance the country’s agricultural sector.
“The new Farm to Table program aims to engage with over 1,200 farmers so they can increase their income by as much as 400 percent,” said Maricris San Diego, executive director of BPI Foundation.
“By learning innovative, climate-smart and sustainable methods of farming, Filipino farmers can become strong and independent agripreneurs, as well as support our country’s food requirements, while also nourishing the Earth for future generations,” she added.
The program will, likewise, explore the potential of the farmers’ yields to reach commercial-scale and become steady producers of rice and other crops for big market players, such as restaurants and hotels.
Technological support and capacity building trainings will help farmers to showcase their fresh harvests to major institutions.
The Farm to Table program has provided eight rainwater harvesting tanks and greenhouses, as well as aided farmer-families increase their income.
On the part of customers, it has given them access to affordable, safe and nutritious locally produced rice.
With this project, BPI Foundation and its partners will continue to improve the capabilities of farmers through agripreneurship modules on farm schools, money management, financial wellness, basics of costing, computer skills, community organization and
environmental protection.
RiceUp is an entity for a cause that empowers farmers through innovation, entrepreneurship, cooperative farming and education. GreenEarth Heritage Foundation is an organization serving farmers at the foothills of the Sierra Madre, in San Miguel, Bulacan.
1 comment
how? interested, from san miguel, bulacan