From Farmer to Agro-Entrepreneur: Stories of Resilience and Growth from Kalasag, Nueva Ecija

Nueva Ecija, Philippines — July 1, 2025 – 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 communities—Filipino farmers. These stories showcase how the FEP, one of JGF’s 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.

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). “Sa kooperatiba, hindi ito tungkol sa isa lang. Pinagdaanan naming lahat ito, kaya bawat tagumpay, tagumpay ng lahat,” he shared.

(In the cooperative, it isn’t about just one person. We go through everything together, which is why each success is the success of everyone.)

Today, all three of Arnold’s 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. “Ang buhay, hindi karera,” he tells young farmers. “Pero kung itutuloy mo ang pagsasaka, uunlad ang iyong pamilya.”

(Life is not a career. But if you pursue farming, your family will prosper.)

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 access to a steady market. “Dati, 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,” he said.

(Before, all I knew was how to take care of a farm. But because of the FEP, I learned how to run a business, manage people, and plan for tomorrow.)

Wency’s biggest learning is in the power of partnerships. “Hindi kakayanin ng kooperatiba kung siya lang. Kailangan may LGU, may foundation, may NGO,” 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 country—mentoring 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.

(The cooperative cannot stand on its own. It’s necessary to have an LGU, a foundation, and an NGO.)

For farmers in the program, this support translates to real results. In 2024, FEP farmers supplied 50% of the Jollibee Group’s 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.

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.

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 change—building stronger communities, more reliable food systems, and sustainable livelihoods for Filipino farmers.