DINALUPIHAN, Bataan — Knowledge gained from the SM Foundation’s Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) program proved to be useful during the COVID-19 pandemic for Ivy de Guzman and other KSK farmer-trainees in this town.

Fuelled by her passion for farming, Ivy joined the Batch 219 of the KSK program in Dinalupihan, Bataan early this year.

Batch 219 was supposed to have their graduation and harvest festival in mid-May, but these activities were put on hold due to the lockdown.

Still, Ivy said that when the lockdown was enforced, she and her KSK batchmates were confident that they could produce their own food.

As it turned out, members of Batch 219 were able to sell their produce at farm gate prices to the local government unit, who in turn distributed it as relief goods to their constituents.

“Napakalaking bagay po ng mga natutunan namin sa KSK, lalo na ngayon sa panahon ng Covid-19 pandemic,” Ivy said.

“Ginamit namin ang mga natutunan namin sa KSK upang magkaroon ng pagkukunan ng aming makakain sa gitna ng pandemya. Bukod dito, naging mas maganda at maayos ang aming mga ani,” Ivy added.

The KSK program beneficiaries also pointed out that not only were they able to provide food security for themselves and their families, but they were also able to contribute to the food security of their community.

As the current president of the Barangay Pita Farmers Association, Ivy also shares the knowledge and resources from the program with the rest of her community in Dinalupihan, Bataan.

She stressed that it is important that they too should understand the scientific way of planting and preparing the soil, know how to produce do-it-yourself organic fertilizers and pesticides, and irrigate and house their crops properly.