MAMBAJAO, CAMIGUIN — Bringing cutting-edge agricultural technology directly to the fields, the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center X (ATI-RTC X) brought its ATIng Agri Extension on Wheels (EOW) Community Caravan to Camiguin Island. The one-day event, held at the Mambajao Convention Center on June 3 , 2026, focused on a Knowledge Sharing and Learning (KSL) session centered on digital agriculture tools for rice farming.
The first batch gathered 30 progressive rice farmers and agricultural extension workers from various parts of the municipality, including Barangays Soro-soro, Balbagon, and Pandan. Led by the expertise of Agriculturist I Marylie Monteroyo-Suralta, the participants were introduced to modern digital solutions designed to optimize their yields, such as the Binhing Palay app and SPIdTech (Smart Pest Identification Technology). The interactive sessions provided farmers with hands-on knowledge on how to leverage these mobile applications for smarter seed selection and faster digital pest and disease identification.
Local officials highly praised the initiative, emphasizing the urgency of agricultural modernization in the region. Hon. Zita M. Abellare, Chair of the Committee on Agriculture, expressed her deep gratitude to the ATI, noting that it was her first time encountering these specific digital tools and stating that it is high time for the farmers of Mambajao to welcome such advancements.
Municipal Councilor Atty. Pol Ochavillo, representing Mayor Iggy Romualdo, also urged the farmers to listen, learn, and value the importance of embracing modernization, as it is a definitive pathway toward higher productivity. He reaffirmed that the current administration remains staunchly supportive of the agricultural sector, recognizing it as one of the most vital contributors to the local economy.
The successful caravan was organized in close partnership with the Municipal Agriculture Office of Mambajao under the leadership of Municipal Agriculturist Teddy Galagar. Following the successful launch and positive reception from the initial participants, a second batch of local farmers underwent the exact same digital agriculture training at the same venue on June 4, ensuring that more farming communities in Mambajao are equipped for the future of smart farming.###
