Virtual Group Picture of the participants together with the ATI-RTC 1 staff.
The Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center I (ATI-RTC I) in partnership with Smart Communications, Inc. successfully conducted the Pilot Test Run of the Digital Farmers Program (DFP) 102 via Zoom Meeting last June 29-30, 2021. A total of 10 farmer- youth pairs from the accredited Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) in the region participated in the training.
DFP 102 is the second course in the three-level program funded by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) that aims to equip and encourage farmers to utilize technologies in farming. This course particularly focuses on in-depth applications on agriculture and e-commerce and usage of social media and smartphones in boosting their farming productivity.
During the training session, the youth representative mainly assisted his/her farmer partner in the hands-on exercises and help answer any questions the farmer had. Moreover, smartload were forwarded to the winners of the activity as a reward for their active participation. Hence, farmer and youth create a connection together.
Participants were also asked for their impressions and learnings about the training. Here are some of their impressions:
"Nagpapasalamat po ako sa training na ito, although first ko sa zoom meeting. Salamat sa mga learning na natutunan ko mejo nangangapa ako sa digital dahil sa tumatanda rin ako. Marami akong natutunan lalo na sa new normal na tayo. Napakagaling rin ng mga staff na nagtraining sa atin, Congratulations po at naging lively ang althroughout activities ng two day training na ito," Ms. Marites Tordecilla representative of Teraoka Farm, Mangatarem, Pangasinan.
"Sa kabuuan ng 2-day seminar, masasabi kong napakaganda ng experience namin dahil unang una napakaalive ng grupo. Ang pinakatumatak sakin na Agri Apps ay ‘yung SPIDTECH, at saka yung East West developed App na Plant Doctor. Hindi ko pa ‘yun nagagamit before na gustong gamitin at ituro doon sa mga ibang naitraining na natin sa ating community. Kaya gustong gusto ko yung app na Canva, although di ko pa rin nagagamit, pero ‘yung anak ko gumagamit na nun kasi yun na ang ginagamit namin sa edit ng graphic designs for posting namin. Natuwa naman ako doon sa QR Code. Napakaganda ang experience na ito katulad ang anak ko ay katuwang ko na ngayon sa mga kailangan gawin for the promotions sa aming enterprise at sa community. Kasi kaming dalawa ang naging RP sa aming patraining nung April at December kung saan pinasok namin yung module ng Digital Farmers Program 101. Kaya meron na kaming 20 graduates ng Manaoag at Mapandan, kaya ito ngayon ang ganda kasi may bago nanaman kaming natutunan para ituro naman sa kanila,” Ms. Victoria Padilla farm owner of Agtalon, Inc., Manaoag, Pangasinan.
At the end of the training, participants received their certificates of completion and tokens including smartload and DFP jacket at ATI-RTC 1 Tebag East, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan.
This training was under the initiative of the Information Services Section Staff lead by Dr. Maricel D. Dacapias with the aim to achieve one of ATI’s core values, innovation and excellence.