In early 2025, the Philippine government declared a national food security emergency. Rice prices were soaring. Farmers were struggling. And the cracks in our agricultural system could no longer be ignored.
This wasn’t just a crisis of supply—it was a crisis of care.
Most of our food still comes from smallholder farmers. They work on tiny plots, often less than a hectare, battling rising costs, erratic weather, and lack of access to markets. Many are nearing retirement age. Few of their children plan to take over the land.
The old folk song says, “Magtanim ay ’di biro.” But in this economy? Magtanim ay ’di sapat.
Farming Against the Odds
Amid this slow-burning emergency, one program has quietly taken root—offering practical tools, long-term support, and a sense of dignity to small-scale growers.
SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) has trained over 32,000 farmers nationwide, expanding to 49,000 with partner organizations like the Philippine Geothermal Production Company. In 2025, it will reach even more underserved communities in Northern Mindanao, Bicol, and the Visayas.
“Programs like Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan don’t just grow crops. They grow futures.”
Through the program, participants learn backyard and small-scale farming, natural techniques, and how to improve crop quality. But perhaps the biggest shift is this: they’re taught how to sell.
From Backyard to Weekend Market
At the heart of the KSK model is something revolutionary: the SM Weekend Market.
Held in high-traffic mall locations, these weekend events allow farmers to sell their harvest directly to consumers. No middlemen. No farmgate losses. No waiting for traders to set prices.
“They didn’t just give us food—they taught us how to grow it.”
—Gloria Cabarios Diampoc, KSK participant
For many farmers, it’s their first time earning a stable income from land they already work.
Growing Food in a Warming World
Climate-related losses cost the Philippines nearly ₱29 billion every year, according to the Department of Agriculture. KSK now incorporates climate-resilient and sustainable practices—such as composting, natural pest management, and water conservation.
In cities, SM’s partners like the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems help extend these ideas into urban gardens and educational farm sites. The goal: build food security from the ground up.
Why This Matters to All of Us
We all eat. And yet, we rarely think about the people who make that possible.
“Food security isn’t just a policy. It’s a shared responsibility.”
Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan isn’t about saving farmers. It’s about valuing them. About ensuring that the people who feed us can feed themselves—and that the next generation can inherit something worth growing.
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