ITOGON, Benguet – The municipal government recognized the growing interest of local farmers in the government’s digitalization program following the active participation of the representatives from the second batch of farmers associations to the digital farmers’ program (DFP) of the Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) in the Cordillera.
The three-day training was conducted on April 12-14, 2023, at the Miner’s Garden, Minac, Tuding, Itogon.
The DFP aims to capacitate farmers in technology’s essential tools in agriculture through smartphones, social media, and mobile applications. It is part of the Department of Agriculture’s program in promoting digital literacy for farmers to remain competitive and sustainable amidst the stiff competition because of the emergence of information and communication technology (ICT).
The training equipped the participants with product phone photography, Canva application, and QR code generation knowledge. Farmers were assisted in setting up their Facebook and Tiktok accounts, alongside tips and tricks for posting content to promote and sell their products online.
During the training, the DFP also introduced e-commerce and marketing through online payment applications and other media platforms, such as Lazada and Shopee.
Mayor Bernard S. Waclin expressed his gratitude to the agriculture department and its partners, such as the municipal agriculturist’s office, in spearheading the cascading of the digital farmers’ program to beneficiaries in the municipality for them to be equipped with the latest technologies for them to effectively market their products and earn more income without fear of being shortchanged in the course of the transactions.
Some barangays in the municipality are agriculture-producing areas because vegetable and rice farming has been their way of life since time in memorial even with the thriving of large and small-scale mining activities.
Waclin also commended the representatives of the farmers associations which actively participated in the series of trainings to cascade the DFP to the grassroots level, saying that they should further enhance their skills and knowledge of the digital technology so that they will not be left behind and for them to be able to effectively market their produce.