MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon-- The Agricultural Training Institute- Regional Training Center X (ATI-RTC X) continuous to develop future-ready farmers as it leveled up its implementation of the Digital Farmers Program (DFP).
ATI-RTC X conducted series of training on DFP Smart Agriculture Technologies (SATs)Phase 1 and DFP SATs for Rice Phase 2.
There were 23 participants, composed of farmer-youth tandem from Sto. Niño Organic Rice Farmers Association (SNORFA) who completed the two-Phase training. SATs Phase 1 and 2 which are pre-requisite courses of DFP 103 version 2 Farm Connect which introduce various web and mobile apps designed by the Department of Agriculture and drone technology on field.
SATs Phase 1 is a DFP 101 and 102 which focuses on basic agri applications and social media marketing, it also includes topics on maximizing the use of internet especially on building their networks. While first phase of SATs covered only the basic agri tools, SATs Phase 2 for rice focuses on smart agriculture technologies for rice crop establishment and management, weed and weather management , and introduced rice farmers on the drone technology.
Participants, especially the young farmers were very appreciative of the agri apps they learned in training. The topics were delivered with return demonstration and hands-on activities to encourage mastery of each agri tools. Participants were handed badges in every tasked completed.
“These digital technologies are mostly free and are just waiting for us, why not use these for better farming. And yes, farmers are aging and they need us , the young generations to sustain the food security in our country,”, says Sherwin Miras, the youth tandem of Mr. Casiano Miras, a retired teacher, now a proud rice farmer in Malaybalay City.
“these technologies will surely take agriculture into the greater heights,” he added.
Mr. Michael Alvarez, was awarded as the Farmer Influencer of the batch through a video liking contes done on facebook during the training. Young farmers uploaded their SATs Phase 2 experience, the video with the most number of won the Farmer Influencer Award. Likewise, the batch voted Mr. Wilmar Ompoc as the Smart Farmer of the batch. Voting was done online.
SATs Phase 1 was held on September 4-6, 2023 and DFP SATs for Rice was on September 6-8, 2023 at Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
After the training, the participants will level-up their knowledge and skills on agri-drone operation through the DFP 103 Farm Connect. ###
