FRANCISCO Bangoy International Airport serves as one of the primary entry points to Davao City, Mindanao's premier urban hub, and acts as the main access route to the southern Philippines. Aside from being a gateway to the region, the Davao International Airport has recently become a starting point for local, organic farmers in the city.
This is made possible through SM Foundation's Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) on Sustainable Agriculture Program and its partner government agencies. Rediscovering the potential of farming Growing up in a family of farmers, Rene Naboa's childhood was steeped in the rhythms of rural life.
"I grew up helping my parents in the rice and corn fields. We also planted small vegetable patches for our own consumption. I developed a love for planting even if I only knew techniques that were passed down to me," Naboa said. Yet, with time, he realized the harsh realities of farming as a livelihood. "While I cherished our simple life, I had to look for other sources of income for my family, as farming wasn't enough to support us financially," Naboa added.
Surprised by the potential of farming, Rene and some of his classmates from Batch 234 formed the KSK DIA Organic Farmers SLP Association after graduation through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)'s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). With support from DSWD, the 25-member association built a greenhouse and a nursery, focusing on cultivating vegetables such as lettuce.
Read more at MSN.