Philippine agritech company Mayani and the development group Bayan Family of Foundations have received a donation from HSBC Philippines to help farmers and fisherfolk.
The goal is to create strong, cooperative farming models that support rural communities. The funding will help small farmers and fishers adapt to climate change and sustainably grow more food.
The trio said in a statement on Thursday that for a nation where smallholders produce over 70 percent of its food supply, farmers and fisherfolk are grappling with a dual crisis: they are the most vulnerable to climate change, and yet they are the least capable of adapting to it.
The United Nations (UN) notes that climate-related challenges affect women smallholder farmers more than others. This is because many women live in poverty, depend heavily on natural resources, and often lack access to farming training and financial support.
This project focuses on forming groups of smallholder-run cooperatives that follow sustainable farming practices, use local knowledge, promote good cooperative management, and use digital tools made for small farmers. It also helps prepare them to reach bigger markets.
A key part of the project is building better farm infrastructure, like smart greenhouses and precision farming systems, to create a long-term impact.
The project will also develop a guidebook for building cooperatives, making it easier for others to follow and repeat the model.
“We are pleased to partner with Bayan and Mayani to provide philanthropic funding for the climate-smart agriculture capacity building,
“This important partnership will aim to support local farmers and fishermen to adapt climate-resilient practices and strengthen their businesses, while also striving to contribute towards the improvement of food security in the Philippines,” said HSBC Philippines President & Chief Executive Officer Sandeep Uppal.
This project supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals—ending hunger (Goal 2), reducing inequality (Goal 10), and taking action on climate change (Goal 12). It also helps build strong and investable food supply chains in rural areas.
However, the Philippines still faces a big challenge: it needs $72 billion in funding to carry out its national climate action plan fully.
To help fill this gap, Mayani is partnering with Co-Axis of Temasek Trust to attract more climate-related investments, following the donation from HSBC.
“There are a thousand ways to tackle any systemic issue,
“History has, however, proven that the power of a community working together towards a common goal can do wonders beyond their expectations,” said Prof. Carlo S. Sagun, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bayan Family of Foundations.
“Filipinos equate this with the value of bayanihan. In the taxonomy of organizations, this is best exemplified by the cooperative, which has the upliftment of its members’ lives as its primary objective through its entrepreneurial pursuits.
“If agricultural cooperatives – numbering in thousands in the Philippines – are effectively mobilized to serve as agents of climate adaptation, social, economic, and even environmental benefits could potentially be delivered to their millions of members,” he added.
According to the statement, Mayani and Bayan will focus this year on helping vulnerable farming areas in Luzon and Visayas.
By 2026, they plan to expand their efforts to include small farmers in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao—a southern area with rich natural resources that is beginning to recover after years of conflict.
The project aims to support not just food production, but also peacebuilding and economic recovery in these communities.
“The sheer gravity and frequency of these climate hazards would eventually require their nomenclature，
“As they evolve, we see them as known constants in agriculture, and it’s high-time we tackle them head on,” said Ochie San Juan, Co-Founder and Chief Farmer of Mayani.
Mayani, the Philippines’ leading agritech platform, focuses on helping small farmers by giving them better access to markets, farming tools, and credit.
HSBC continues its mission to support projects that create real impact and help communities reach their goals for lower emissions, climate resilience, and inclusion.
By working with rural smallholder farmers—who are often the hardest hit by climate change—Mayani and HSBC hope to make the most of this funding and help those who need it most.
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