KSK alumna Virgie with some of her mushroom chicharon products
SM Foundation farmer-beneficiary now an agripreneur, draws inspiration from Henry Sy, Sr.
VIRGIE Gonda, a Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) Batch 221 alumna from Tarlac City, never imagined she would make it big when he followed Henry Sy’s advice to budding farmers.
Shortly after planting her preferred crops, she went above the farming ladder at an unprecedented pace.
Her success is one of the flashpoints of SM Group founder Henry “Tatang” Sy Sr. when he established SM Foundation’s KSK on Sustainable Agriculture program in 2007.
Today, many KSK graduates have found success as agripreneurs, including Gonda.
Vangie grew up well aware of the struggles of farming. She vividly recalls: “Bata pa lang ako ay mulat na ako sa buhay ng magsasaka dahil dakilang magsasaka ang aking ama.
Dito niya kami binuhay.” “Nakita ko sa Tatay ko ang hirap ng old farming style. Mangungutang siya ng pangsaka—sa kasamaang palad, ‘yung kita mula sa apat na buwan niyang pagkayod at pagsasaka ay napunta lang halos sa pambayad sa utang.”
From tending to a small patch of mushrooms, Virgie’s business flourished, bearing fruit to the tune of P30,000 each month.
The Farmer’s Market Day in SM City Tarlac became the launchpad of her mushroom chicharon.
Her entrepreneurial spirit grew just like the mushrooms she cultivated, soon expanding her offerings to include banana and kamote chips, and fruit vinegars sold in events, bazaars, and as company giveaways.
As her business expanded, she shared her knowledge with the community: “Gusto ko rin tumulong sa kapwa naming farmers. Dati, kami lang ang nag-proproduce ng mga mushroom at gulay.
Ngayon ‘yun mga tinuruan ko sa pagtatanim ng mushroom ay nagsu-supply na rin sa amin.”
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TULOY KAYO
