San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has grown its Backyard Bukid urban farming program at its Pasig headquarters that now cultivates 39 varieties of flowering plants and vegetables.
SMC said the project initiated only in 2021 to help its service personnel during the pandemic now covers 750 square meters and includes a plant nursery and 80 garden plots while functioning as a center for employee wellness, volunteerism and training.
SMC also said this had been replicated in several other facilities through the San Miguel Foundation.
The company said the project had been expanded through a partnership with Urban Farmers PH to further enhance the farm’s diversity and variety of produce.
Among the farmyard staples being grown include tomato, okra, ampalaya, kale, romaine lettuce and other salad greens.
“I am proud to see the progress of our Backyard Bukid project. Apart from promoting urban agriculture, it has also become a space for our support staff to collaborate and learn life-long skills that will help them become more resilient and self-sufficient. I’m grateful to our partner, Urban Farmers PH, for helping us expand this project. Our goal is to extend this initiative to even more facilities, involve more employees and encourage other companies to do the same,” said Ramon Ang, SMC president, in a statement.
SMC’s Backyard Bukid follows a harvest cycle of 20 to 35 days. Its harvest is distributed among members who then sell it to employees.
Some of the harvest is also bought by SMC and donated to its Better World Tondo community center for its daily feeding program.
The company also has plans to buy the vegetables for the office canteen.
