BROOKE’S POINT, PALAWAN - A total of 33 participants attended the Training of Trainers (TOT) on Digital Farmers Program (DFP) consisting of 28 Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) from the municipalities of Brooke’s Point, Sofronio Española, Quezon, and Narra; and five (5) farmer leaders from the Municipality of Brooke’s Point.

The TOT equipped the AEWs and farmer leaders with knowledge and skills on how to use basic digital tools including advanced agri-tools, social media, climate and weather monitoring applications, and online payment options. Also, they learned advanced social media marketing that helps them make better farming decisions and access more market opportunities.

Mr. Erlan D. Pasana, Information Officer II, Engr. Karen A. Tulay, Agriculturist I, Mark Jayson S. Alcobera, Project Development Assistant II, and Michael Daven T. Jugno, Project Development Assistant II of the Information Services Section of the Agricultural Training Institute in MiMaRoPa served as Resource Persons during the two-day training.

In preparation for the DFP rollout at the municipal level, the participants were grouped into ten (10) and each group was given a specific topic. During the microteaching session, each group presented their assigned topics for a maximum of five (5) minutes and they were given scores based on the set criteria.

“Maraming salamat sa pagturo sa akin kung paano gamitin ang smartphones. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na may ibat-ibang features at gamit pala ang cellphones. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa ATI at sa aming opisina dahil binigyan nila ako ng pagkakataon na makadalo sa ganitong pagsasanay. Ang tumatak sa akin sa lahat ng tinuro ay ang Social Media Marketing, na pwede rin magamit ng ating mga magsasaka para maibenta ang kanilang mga produkto”, Vladimir C. Aficial, Farm Worker from Narra, Palawan said.

The participants were also able to prepare a DFP rollout plan as part of their final output.