For many years, GSMI has been an active and responsible citizen primarily in the communities where its facilities are located. Drawing on this principle, the Business Farming Unit hopes to spur rural development and employment, fight hunger and alleviate rural poverty.
We have crafted various programs and projects that address contemporary issues on livelihood, education, and the environment. These projects have active community involvement and are implemented with the objective of benefiting a larger number of people.
1. Rootcrop Training: Through qualified resource speakers, host barangays are given training on cassava and sugarcane planting. We encourage the farmers to help each other so that everyone grows and produces more together – an abundance mentality.
2. Planting Material Distribution: By securing planting materials and capital, we assist our farmer-partners to transition into cassava and sugarcane planting. Instead of simply giving away planting materials, we have implemented a borrowing system that requires farmers to return two and a half bundles of the planting materials initially provided.
3. Enterprise Development: Provision of seed capital and training on entrepreneurial skills are the main features of this program. Assistance is given to organized groups in the farms’ neighboring communities.
4. Community Organizing and Values Formation: Through qualified resource speakers both from the public and private sector, farming groups are given training on team building, capability building and resource generation.