In the farming community of San Jose, Nueva Ecija, rows of harvested onions tell a deeper story. Every kilo delivered to its intended market represents the journey of smallholder farmers who, with the support of Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), have grown crops that nurtured skills and confidence along the way. As JGF celebrates its 20th anniversary, success stories from its Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) highlight one of the most important segments in our communitiesâFilipino farmers.
These stories showcase how the FEP, one of JGFâs long-standing programs, supports smallholder farmers by providing them with the skills and systems needed to operate as agro-enterprises, or enterprises built around agricultural work.
Kalasag Multipurpose Cooperative
Chairman Arnold Dizon, one of the founding members of Kalasag Multipurpose Cooperative, has spent his life in the fields. What began as a small cooperative of just 30 members in 2008 has grown into a reliable supplier for global food brands under the Jollibee Group. Under his leadership, Kalasag not only secured access to a stable market, but also helped members learn the fundamentals of running a business, from crafting supply plans to securing certifications like Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Asia Good Agricultural Practices (ASIA-GAP). âSa kooperatiba, hindi ito tungkol sa isa lang. Pinagdaanan naming lahat ito, kaya bawat tagumpay, tagumpay ng lahat,â he shared.
Today, all three of Arnoldâs children are now farming on land he was able to acquire through the cooperative. What started as a dream to sell onions at a fair price has turned into a thriving community enterprise that provides dividends, loans, and even educational support to its members. âAng buhay, hindi karera,â he tells young farmers. âPero kung itutuloy mo ang pagsasaka, uunlad ang iyong pamilya.â
Access to steady market
Wencelito Gomez, also a founding member of Kalasag, recalls the years before Kalasag was formed, when their only goal was to find a decent buyer for their crops. Back then, onions could go for as low as one peso per kilo, leaving farmers with barely enough to survive. When the local government unit (LGU) connected them to JGF and its partners, everything changed. Through the FEP, Wency and his fellow farmers received business training, technical support, and also access to a steady market. âDati, ang alam ko lang ay diskarte sa bukid. Pero dahil sa FEP, natuto akong magpatakbo ng negosyo, humawak ng tao, at magplano para sa kinabukasan,â he said.
Wencyâs biggest learning is in the power of partnerships. âHindi kakayanin ng kooperatiba kung siya lang. Kailangan may LGU, may foundation, may NGO,â he explained. With the support of JGF, local government, financing institutions, and fellow farmers, Wency has become a leader not just in his community but across the countryâmentoring other farmer groups and helping expand cooperative farming. His passion now lies in inspiring the next generation, proving that farming can be both a dignified profession and a path to growth.
FEP Farmers
For farmers in the program, this support translates to real results. In 2024, FEP farmers supplied 50% of the Jollibee Groupâs onion requirements. To date, 34 farmer groups collectively delivered 13 million kilos of produce from their farms to Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Mang Inasal commissaries, generating PHP 703 million in sales. Through direct market access, they significantly increase their income and provide stable livelihoods for their families.
Moreover, these stories were at the center of the recent FEP Farm Visit, which brought select members of the media to Kalasag for an up-close look at how the FEP works on the ground. Participants visited farms, joined in on peeling onions, and sat down with farmers to hear their journeys firsthand.
Furthermore, the visitor reinforces a powerful message: supporting local agriculture means supporting Filipino families, livelihoods, and the long-term health of our food systems.
Programs like FEP demonstrate how strategic agricultural support creates lasting changeâbuilding stronger communities, more reliable food systems, and sustainable livelihoods for Filipino farmers.