Jollibee Group helps level up farmers to entrepreneurs

Jollibee Group

Jan 16, 2023

Through its Farmer Entrepreneurship Program, Jollibee Group Foundation empowers smallholder farmers with training, market access, and business skills—helping them supply over 9 million kilos of produce, earn P360 million, and play a vital role in strengthening food security in the Philippines.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), one in every five Filipino workers is employed in agriculture, but this sector remains one of the poorest among the basic sectors. PSA also reported in May 2022 that the value of agricultural and fisheries production fell by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2022.

Smallholder farmers dominate agricultural production in the Philippines, but most of them are struggling to improve their farming practices and find buyers due to a lack of access to training and technologies.

Since 2008, Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) and its partners nationwide have been helping empower farmers to have a sustainable livelihood and income.

JGF's Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) is a comprehensive agro-entrepreneurship program that helps sharpen the technical and business skills of farmers. FEP also links farmers to institutional markets such as the Jollibee Group's brands for increased and steady income.

Jollibee Group said it currently has 18 accredited farmer groups as suppliers. Since the program began, FEP farmers have delivered 9 million kilos of vegetables to the company and earned more than P360 million (USD 6.3 million).

"JGF and our partners assist farmers in becoming farmer-entrepreneurs, allowing them to participate more actively in agriculture value chains, provide food for their own families, and contribute to the country's food security," said JGF Executive Director Gisela Tiongson.