The Agricultural Training Institute-XI has reached out to more agricultural stakeholders in Davao Oriental to encourage them to become digitally equipped through the Digital Farmers Program (DFP) in partnership with Smart Communication Inc.
On March 23, a one-day workshop on the Digital Farmers Program (101) was held at the Oriental Prince Suites and Arcade, Brgy. Dahican, Mati City, Davao Oriental. It was attended by farmer leaders and youth from different parts of the province, as well as Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) from the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRO).
DFP 101 introduced participants to the use and functions of a smartphone, such as connecting to the internet to access agricultural information and downloading mobile applications for use in their daily farming life. Lessons on basic social media marketing were also given to provide them with some basic information about how to sell their farm products online.
Meanwhile, ATI held the DFP 102, the second phase of the three-level program that focuses on more advanced forms of new digital technologies in farming, on March 24–25 at the same venue. The Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) cooperators, their partner youth, and AEWs who completed the DFP 101 attended this two-day training.
DFP 102 walked participants through the process of downloading advanced mobile agri-apps such as Plant Doctor and SPIDTECH. Ms. Marilie D. Tangog and Ms. Caryl S. Agting, PhilRice representatives and training resource persons, also introduced them to rice agri-apps such as Rice Crop Manager, Binhing Palay, e-Damuhan, among others.
As part of enhancing the participants' online marketing skills, Mr. Narciso Ponce, Jr., General Manager of Casuga Integrated Farm School and a DAC for RCEF Training of Trainers (TOT) graduate, discussed with them advanced social media marketing techniques to increase their sales online. He also guided them in creating appealing and catchy social media content using the tool Canva. Following that, the participants devised their social media marketing strategies and created business vision boards.
DFP 102 also covers discussion on e-commerce platforms such as e-Kadiwa, Shoppee, and Lazada, as well as the online payment application Paymaya.
The DFP supports the Department of Agriculture's (DA's) Digital Agriculture Program, under the One DA Reform Agenda of Sec. William D. Dar.
