In aiming to capacitate and prepare farm school representatives to implement a digital literacy training for farmers in their respective areas, 20 farm school representatives from Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental take the role as digital agriculture regional trainers as they join the 3-day training on the Digital Agriculture Course for RCEF conducted by ATI RTC X on August 1-3, 2022.
“We need to cope with the digitalization…and it is through you that we can reach and help more farmers, especially in using these digital technologies in their farming activities”, Information Officer II and Information Services Section (ISS) Chief Maria Eloisa A. Akut said in her opening message.
The Digital Agriculture Course (DAC) for RCEF adopted the learning modules of the Digital Farmers Program which revolves on the features of smartphones and the use of rice-related agriculture applications and tools such as the LCC App, MOET App, eDamuhan, AgriDOC app, Binhing Palay, Rice Doctor, and Pinoy Rice Knowledge Bank. These apps are made to enhance the farming activities of the farmers especially on the seed selection and preparation, and nutrient, pest, and farm management. The participants were also taught on how to use different e-commerce platforms such as Facebook, Shopee, and Lazada, in marketing their farm products. They were also immersed on the use of Canva, an online graphic designing tool, in creating posters for their products, and were familiarized on the use of online transactions when making payments.
“We are not here to compete, but to supplement each other. Learning is a lifelong process, and we need this more now since we are on the digital age. We need to join our hands together in serving our farmers”, said Zaldy Saludares, 54, owner of Isza’s Green Pasture Agricultural Learning Center. As one of the oldest participants of the said training, he encourages his fellow farm schools to work as a team to serve their fellow farmers.
With the goal of reaching and teaching more farmers, it is undeniable that with our ageing farmers, they definitely need the help of the younger generation, being the ones who are tech savvy.
Rone Febie B. Antonino, 22, of Nonoy’s Kamalig and Hituan Agricultural Learning Center, is grateful for the opportunity given to them, for being invited as one of the participants. “As a youth, this is really a great opportunity for me and our farm, especially because this is the first training that I’ve been into. Surely the learnings that I gained from here will be shared to my fellow youth and our farmers once this will be implemented in our area.”
Center Director Maria Lydia A. Echavez also commends the effort of the youth, especially in lending a hand in teaching the adults about the different technological advancements. She says, “We always appreciate the involvement of the youth in out trainings, more especially with their involvement in the farm… I hope as you dream for your farm, you bring your children with you… And even if you are already well versed about the lessons taught to you, you should always be open to new learning and keep on improving yourselves”.
The Digital Agriculture course for RCEF will complement the Farmer Field Schools in their respective areas. This is already the 2nd batch of the TOT on Digital Agriculture Course for RCEF since the training implementation in 2021. #