BPI Foundation and AGREA Foundation to transform farming communities

BPI Foundation, the social development arm of BPI, recently collaborated with AGREA Foundation to nurture and transform the farming communities in Majayjay, Laguna with the end goal of preparing and making the farmers ‘bank-ready’ to enable and create sustainable farming.

Under the agreement, BPI Foundation, through its Farm to Table program, will provide funding support amounting to Php 2.86 million for the implementation of the project, and actively coordinate and collaborate with AGREA Foundation in the implementation of all the activities.

According to BPI Foundation Executive Director Owen Cammayo, a key component of the program is the co-development of financial literacy modules to prepare the farmers to have access to banking services.

“We believe that every farmer deserves a more comfortable and prosperous life,” said BPI Foundation Executive Director Owen Cammayo. “Together with AGREA Foundation, we hope to empower our farmers and the next generation to create a better farming community in the country through our Farm to Table program.”

A total of 150 farmers from the Amonoy Rice Farming Association and Philippine Rice Farmers Association in Majayjay, Laguna will benefit from a holistic enablement and development approach that will integrate financial education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and market access.

The program is composed of 1) the Farm-to-Table Farm School, an avenue for 100 farmers to learn, explore, and incubate ideas that are set to spark transformation in their community; 2) the Masterclass for Outstanding Village Economies (MOVE), which will enable 25 women farmers to have improved nutrition at home and their communities, through training on processing and selling of healthy products; and 3) the Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship Workshop (YLAW), which will introduce 25 youth farmers to the basics of agricultural production, define their life goals, and lead their communities toward economic development.

“Everything starts with compassion and empathy — shared values between AGREA and BPI Foundation. These are what we need right now, especially during these difficult times,” said AGREA Foundation CEO Cherrie Atilano. “This partnership will greatly benefit our partner farming community in Majayjay on capacity-building, good governance, and access to markets.”

Since its launch in 2019, the Farm to Table program has already helped over 2,600 farming families with around 13,500 members in Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Vizcaya, and Davao City.