With all [the knowledge and skills] that I have acquired and developed, there's nothing more important than to share it to others through extension service."

WHEN 34-year-old John Lei Ganiron opted to follow his dad's footsteps as a farmer in the city of Batac in Ilocos Norte instead of pushing a career in electrical and communications engineering, little did he know that more than five years later, he would become one of the most sought-after trainers on high-value crop production, changing farmers lives one at a time.

Ganiron said working at the farm gives him the "best feeling ever," but noted there is more to that.

John Lei GanironFounderRomaine Organic Agriculture Academy

He said all the government-initiated training and programs that he attended nurtured him as a farmer-trainer and has opened up doors of opportunities for him to grow and be of help to others.

"With all [the knowledge and skills] that I have acquired and developed, there's nothing more important than to share it to others [through] extension service," he said.

In 2016, he put up the Romaine Organic Agriculture Academy to promote sustainable agriculture using combined technologies and best practices to fellow farmers and plant enthusiasts.

Being a former recipient of various government training programs on farming, as well as of SM Foundation's Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan on Sustainable Agriculture Program (KSK-SAP), made Ganiron realize the value of agriculture even more.

"The agriculture sector is the backbone of the economy. It is a way of life other than being a job or business," he said.

To reach out to more farmers and help them become empowered like he is now, Ganiron, in partnership with SM Foundation and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), will embark on a 14-week hands-on lectures, spanning from modern farming methods to marketing and business principles, to give participants updated agricultural knowledge and skills aimed to promote zero hunger and poverty alleviation in line with the Marcos administration's bid.

Announcement of the schedule will be in August after a benchmarking activity with a partner-farm school in Pampanga.

The office of Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos has also allocated P2 million in support of the KSK program in this city.

Holistic approach

Rogerio Bismonte, DSWD-Ilocos Region partnership officer, said a holistic approach is needed to address hunger and poverty.

It is on this premise that the national and local governments have partnered with the private sector and farmers to achieve positive results.

"The Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan-Sustainable Agriculture Program is a convergence initiative with SM Foundation Inc. which aims to capacitate local farmers on green agriculture and establish community gardens that would serve as food augmentation and additional income for farmers," Bismonte said.

Aside from establishing community gardens, Bismonte said the DSWD plans to help the farmer-trainees establish themselves as a cooperative so that they can be linked with institutional government markets and supply raw materials needed in government feeding programs, Kadiwa and food stamp programs, among others.

In this city, at least four farmers associations, composed of 100 active members, were tapped during the July 29 launching of the KSK program here.

These include the cooperatives of barangay Bacsil North, Bacsil South, Lataag and Camanggaan. The farmers will be trained to engage in semi-organic vegetable farming, chicken and egg production, and hog raising.

"It is time for our farmers to get serious about it. This is a big opportunity for us to have an assured market for our products," said Ferdinand Claro, president of the Lataag Farmers Association.

For his part, Laoag City Mayor Michael Keon expressed support for the program, envisioned to change the lives of farmers.

"This initiative marks a significant step towards empowering our farmers with the skills and knowledge needed for sustainable agriculture and food security," he said, as he looks forward to seeing more farmers expanding their market reach not just in open markets but also with institutional buyers.

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