TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite – “Ang Digital Farmers Program (DFP) ay binuo ng SMART katuwang ang Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) na naglalayon ito na makapagbahagi sa smallholder farmers ng mga kaalaman ukol sa digital tools. Ang kahalagahan nito ay mapadali para sa ating mga magsasaka na makakalap ng impormasyon para mapalago ang ani at mapabuti ang pamamaraan sa mga sakahan. Para rin makapagbahagi ng impormasyon sa ibang mga magsasaka tulad ng best practices. Isa pang layunin ng DFP ay hikayatin ang mga susunod na henerasyon, mga kabataan, na pumasok, bumalik o magpatuloy sa Agrikultura. Ang hangad namin ay maipagpatuloy yung mga natututunan ninyo, yung pagsasanay na ginawa ninyo sa Kwentuhang Agri,” remarked by Ms. Stephanie Orlino, Center Head/Assistant Vice President of SMART Community Partnerships during the DFP 101 Kwentuhang Agri Awarding on December 16, 2019 in this city.

Fourteen (14) awardees from the four (4) pilot batches of DFP 101 in CaLaBaRZon attend the awarding ceremony. As part of the training held last July and August, the winners were able to produce two to three-minute video about agriculture. The videos were evaluated based on content (35%), use of digital tools (20%) and Facebook views (10%). The farmer and youth winners received Certificate of Recognition from ATI CaLaBaRZon and DigiSack Intro Kit from SMART Communications Inc. which includes smartphone, solar powerbank, lapel micrphone, USB and tripod. Kit will be used in producing higher quality of videos.

The DFP 101 winners are:

Alfonso, Cavite
1st place: Milton Razon and Glo Mojica (The Millenial - Millenium Farmer Show: Zero Waste Pig Farming)
2nd place: Aurora Romeroso and Jana Santiago (Paraan ng Pagpupunla ng Kamatis)
3rd place: Rafael Nuestro and Edralyn Ferre (Vegetable Grafting and Fruit Wine Making)

Lobo, Batangas
Special Prize: Merla Parajas (Kahalagahan ng Agrikultura)

Tanay, Rizal
1st place: Exekiel Reyes and Doroteo Reyes (Gaano Ba Kahalaga Ang Pagsasaka)
2nd place: Jennilyn Fortunado and Nellie de Vera – Juan (Gulayan ni Tita Nellie)
Special Prize: Amarie Bernal (Life of Farmer)

Magdalena, Laguna
1st place: John Albert Alcantara and Danilo Noceto Jr. (Carabao Al Technicial)
2nd place: Agripina Ochoa and Delick Balangue (Agrie’s Integrated Natural Farm)
3rd place: Emily Rebadajo and Jerico Garcia (The Rhymes and Reason’s in Farmer’s Life)

“Maraming salamat sa SMART Communications, Inc. at Probe Media Foundation na matagumpay na naisagawa ang pagsasanay na ito. Sa mga awardees, nawa ay patuloy ninyong magamit ang inyong natutunan at maibahagi pa ang inyong kaalaman,” expressed by Ms. Marites Piamonte – Cosico, Center Director of ATI CaLaBaRZon. Ms. Yasmina Mapua – Tang, Executive Director of Probe Media Foundation Inc. also graced the activity.

Winners of DFP 101 will proceed to DFP 102 in 2020. They will be tasked to create and post video entries which will be selected based on criteria. Winners will receive DigiSack Editor’s Kit.