Thirty farmer-members of Dodan-Gaddang Irrigators Association (IA) and youth commit to digital agriculture through their experience in the first phase of the Digital Farmers Program (DFP) Farm Learn to turn them into future-ready farmers. The training was conducted on April 17-19, 2024 at Brgy. Dodan, Aparri, Cagayan.
The participants were introduced to basic and advanced agriculture apps and ICT tools, social media marketing and e-Commerce Platforms. They also learned about the applications and ICT tools through hands-on activities and group works.
Also, one of the activities in the training was the 24-hour activity profile where participants identify their reproductive and productive roles, and community work daily. This gender analysis tool is used to understand the community where the participants belong to, and whether the training will impact their various familial and community roles.
This training was made possible with the full and active support of the Local Government Unit of Aparri, Cagayan led by Municipal Mayor Hon. Bryan Dale Chan and the Municipal Agriculture Office headed by Municipal Agriculturist Ms. Marites L. Robinion, and the commitment of the Dodan-Gaddang IA headed by Pres. Eddie C. Malazzab.
“It had been a great joy for me to attend this 3-day training as I was able to learn many things like accessing the internet, then Facebook, Google, Youtube and many others, agri apps like Payong PAGASA, GPS, and e-Learning for Agriculture and Fisheries. What interest me most are the activities we did which everybody enjoyed like how to dream big and to achieve it,” said Lorenza D. Cabalzo, one of the senior participants in the training.
DFP can be recalled to have started as a leap towards Agriculture 4.0 and to prepare Filipino farmers on the digitalization of the agriculture sector. In its third year, the DFP under the Farm Learn component follows Phase 1 and 2, with its first phase featuring basic and advanced topics on digital agriculture. Phase 2 shall take place in May with the same participants in Phase 1. The second phase covers more advanced agricultural apps and ICT tools along with agricultural drone technology. Also, DFP Farm Connect which aims to connect farmers to drone service providers and credit programs will follow in June.
DFP Farm Learn focuses on organized farm groups such the Dodan-Gaddang IA to encourage knowledge-sharing, and learning within their association. In the years to come, Dodan-Gaddang IA is expected to be one of the first farmer organizations in Region 2 to apply digital agriculture in their farming practices.
Read DFP Farm Learn Phase 2:
