Thirty-one AEWs from Benguet, Ifugao and Kalinga successfully finished their Training of Trainers on the Digital Farmers Program (DFP) held at the Bacayan’s Rice-based Integrated Farm, Tannubong, Ipil, Tabuk City, Kalinga on June 24-26, 2025.
The activity aimed to train extension workers in local government units in implementing the Digital Farmers Program in their respective areas.
In his overview, Mr. Jaypee Na-oy, Project Officer, summarized the whole package of the Digital Farmers Program. DFP 101, the first ladder of the program, which focused on Smartphone 101, covering Internet Basics and Internet Safety, Photography/Videography, and Content conceptualization. The DFP 102 was on eCommerce, Digital Media Content, Social Media Marketing, Canva, e-Commerce Platforms, and the introductory part of Agri-apps. The last ladder is DFP 103 which ultimately focused on Advanced Agri-apps and Smart Agriculture, Digital Entrepreneurship, and Drone Technology. He said that the DFP is a ladderized course intended for farmers, established by the ATI and PLDT and Smart, and is a comprehensive program aimed at fostering the widespread adoption of modern agricultural technologies. It encompasses digital literacy training, networking opportunities, digital resource provision, and smart farm certification. For this TOT, the focus of the discussion and workshop is on DFP 101 and 102.
During the Closing Program, Mr. Jef Bangcawayan of Conner, Apayao inspired his fellow participants as he expressed his impression regarding the training. He said that he works as an Agricultural Biosystems Engineer in the Municipality of Conner under the Municipal Agriculture Office. His work assignment is mostly on agricultural infrastructure projects, but he is sometimes requested to help in conducting training and other activities for the other banner programs. With that, joining this training is very relevant for him, as it enhances his understanding of the technical aspects of agriculture, particularly with mobile applications that can be used in farming. Additionally, learning how to use Canva is advantageous as it helps in creating posters, informational materials, and other resources faster and easier.
