The Agricultural Training Institute - Central Luzon conducted a four-day Digital Farmers Program Training among 20 Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) staff of Tarlac from May 2-5, 2023, at the Farmers Training Center of Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU), Camiling, Tarlac. The training aimed to improve the knowledge, skills, and equip participants with the latest agricultural ICT tools to deliver proper and effective extension services to their fellow farmers.
During the training, participants showed outstanding performance in micro-teaching, applying the concepts, principles, and techniques they learned to their chosen topics. The resource persons served as panelists and provided the participants with constructive criticisms to further improve their capacities as trainers.
Ms. Janice Agustin, a participant from Camiling, Tarlac, expressed her learnings and insights from the training and plans to use the agricultural ICT tools, such as AccuWeather and AgriDoc apps, in their farmer field school topics.
βAng laki pong maitutulong nito hindi lamang sa mga magsasaka kundi pati sa mga Agricultural Extension Workers. Ang laking tulong ng mga apps mula sa AccuWeather hanggang sa AgriDoc, makakaasa po kayo na makakarating ito sa mga farmers. Isasama na naming ito sa mga topics naming sa farmers field school, wala mang cellphone si farmer, baka magkaroon sila ng interest na bumili ang mga ito,β she quipped.
Ms. Regine Felipe also expressed her gratitude for having this kind of training that fully adopts farmers in the advent of technology.
βMaraming salamat po sa ATI sa training na ito. Malaking tulong ito sa aming mga farmers at makakasabay din sila sa technology,β she added.
The resource persons for the said training were Mr. Kent Edward Ballesteros, Media Production Specialist II; Ms. Eula Dee LaΓ±ada, Information Officer II; Ms. Mariel Baldoz, Agriculturist I; and Mr. John Led Joaquin, Technical Support Staff IV.
The closing program and graduation of participants were graced by Dr. Joey Belarmino, Center Director of ATI-Central Luzon; Dr. Max Guillermo, TAU President; and Dr. Ma. Asuncion G. Beltran, TAU Vice President for Research, Extension and Training.
During the graduation, participants received training certificates with 11 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points. Additionally, the training received an excellent average rating for Resource Persons and an excellent rating for their Overall Training Experience. (JJCSambrano)
