PLDT, Smart’s social sustainability initiatives revive livelihood in new normal

'Buy Local' sustainability fund partner farmer from Jaen, Nueva Ecija

PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) unprecedently stimulate countryside economic recovery through collective action towards sustainable agriculture and resilient livelihood programs.  

Launched in 2019, the Digital Farmers’ Program (DFP) aims to help increase the livelihood opportunities among farming communities through Information and Communications Technologies.  

This year, PLDT and Smart, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute, have rolled out 133 DFP training sessions nationwide, attended by 961 farmers, 692 rural youths, and 1,346 agri-extension workers (AEW) and learning site for agriculture cooperators.  To date, DFP assisted 3,289 farmers, 1,807 rural youths, and 1,459 AEWs.

PlantSmart GrowHub located at Smart Tower's roof deck at the heart of Makati CBD

PLDT and Smart also partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry and other private organizations to conduct learning exchange sessions among farmers, cooperatives, and MSMEs on digitalization to help businesses thrive. Conducting 12 eBiznovation sessions in 2022, PLDT and Smart reached 7,444 participating cooperatives, MSMEs, and tourism stakeholders across the country.  

An innovative farm-to-market initiative launched in 2019, ‘Buy Local’ provides Filipino smallholder farmers with access to sure markets and affordable capital. To date, PLDT and Smart have facilitated over 4.5 million pesos in sales for over 400 farmers and raised more than two million pesos to provide capital support to more than 200 farmers nationwide.

FarmSmart Farm advocacy program participants from Occidental Mindoro

Launched in 2022 with FarmVocacy, FarmSmart Farm helps increase the yield and income of smallholder farmers in Santa Cruz, Occidental Mindoro through a technology-enhanced sustainable farming ecosystem, where rice growers use environmentally friendly farm inputs and practice climate-smart farming system. In one cropping season, a 50% increase in yield and a 45% income growth were seen.

Utilizing office spaces, PLDT and Smart built PlantSmart GrowHubs in their Makati and Cagayan de Oro headquarters to further promote food security. Most of the produce is given to personnel who help maintain the garden, to augment their food supply expenses. A portion of the produce is also sold to other employees at a fair price through ‘Buy Local’.

A farmer-participant tries out the Plant Doctor app during a DFP training session in Camotes island, Cebu

To encourage Filipino families grow their own food at home, PLDT and Smart distributed 5,250 PlantSmart Kits to 94 communities nationwide, benefitting urban and rural communities, members of women and faith-based organizations, coops, and indigenous cultural communities.

These initiatives in 2022 underscore the PLDT Group’s commitment towards achieving the UNSDGs #1 No Poverty, #2 Zero Hunger, #3 Good Health and Well-Being, #8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, and #12 Responsible Production and Consumption.