Initial batches of the regional training of trainers (TOT) on Digital Agriculture Course under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (DAC4RCEF) went underway this October and November led by the regional training centers (RTCs) of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).

ATI Cagayan Valley and Central Visayas started off the activities with their first batches conducted virtually last October 12-14.

The DAC4RCEF aims to capacitate RCEF farm school representatives in implementing a digital literacy training for farmers in their respective areas which will complement the Farmer Field School (FFS) they have undergone under RCEF.

Sharing the same goal and vision with ATI and Smart Communications, Inc.’s Digital Farmers Program (DFP), the DAC4RCEF made use of DFP modules and incorporated the promotion of rice-based agriculture applications and tools.

“Despite it being a challenge to teach farmers the use of smartphones, through this training and its strategies, they would have the confidence to use and to adapt to the technology we have right now,” said Marilyn Tan, a participant in the DAC4RCEF TOT in ATI Eastern Visayas

Included in the rice-based agriculture apps and tools added to DAC4RCEF are Binhing Palay, AgriDOC app, Rice Crop Manager, and Pinoy Rice Knowledge Bank, among others.

The said applications will provide trainers and farmers innovative, easier, and effective ways in managing their rice farms with the use of their smartphone.

One of the participants in the DAC4RCEF TOT in ATI Ilocos, Michael John Fontiveros, shared that learning an app like the Leaf Color Computing (LCC) App can aid you in nutrient management was a sight of good things to come.

“I would like to thank ATI Ilocos in introducing the LCC App to us which can help us farmers in managing our farms and improve our yield. Through this app, I learned the nitrogen level of my rice plant and how to properly care for it,” Fontiveros explained.

After their initial batches, ATI Cagayan Valley followed it up with two more batches in October while ATI Central Visayas added one more in the same month.

ATI Western Visayas was also able to conduct three batches while ATI Ilocos, ATI Bicol, and ATI Northern Mindanao did two batches of their own.

Rounding up the activities were ATI Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Eastern Visayas with one batch facilitated each in their respective areas.

Other RTCS of the ATI will be conducting their DAC4RCEF TOT in the coming weeks. For more details, visit www.facebook.com/ATIinteractive.