PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continues to promote sustainable livelihood by supporting AgriTalk, a program of the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI).   

The virtual training series aims to highlight opportunities in agribusiness by featuring farming experts and success stories on agri-entrepreneurship.    
 
Smart’s support for AgriTalk reinforces the shift from on-ground trainings to virtual capacity building sessions, in view of the current restrictions on public gatherings. The webinar series will run until the end of October 2020, with new episodes aired throughout the week via the DA-ATI's various regional Facebook pages.  

“There is a need to communicate farming as a viable business venture. Bringing AgriTalk to a virtual platform will help reach more people and raise awareness on the many possible opportunities of agribusiness,” Smart VP for Community Partnerships Darwin F. Flores says.   
 
AgriTalk discussions will cover the production, processing, and marketing of specific commodities, involving the entire value chain. The value chain approach expands the participants’ perspectives on farming, enabling them to have an idea on how to develop small-scale agri-enterprises for additional income.   

Through the lectures of the resource persons, and successful stories and tips of featured farm business owners during the activity, they will have a clearer understanding of the importance of product processing and marketing to increase their productivity, competitiveness, and profitability.  

AgriTalk follows the success of the Digital Farmers Program (DFP), a collaboration between Smart and DA-ATI aimed at leveling up farmers’ productivity and marketability through trainings on the latest mobile technologies. DFP links technology-savvy youths with small-holder farmers so that the latter could tap the digital space, and consequently, establish a channel for exchanging ideas—from using modern agricultural technologies, to discovering time-tested farming traditions.   

Under DFP 101, farmers are trained on the basics of smartphone use, accessing the Internet, Internet safety and security, agri apps, social media, and social media marketing. Advance phases will include lessons on mobile agriculture and financial services such as third-party farming apps, mobile e-money, and microcredit, entrepreneurship, smart farming, and financial literacy.   

Even in the face of the current pandemic, DA-ATI and Smart are still able to continue with the roll out of DFP training sessions either in physical or online training setup. To be able to reach more farmers in the country, an online course on DFP’s introductory course will be made available soon at ATI’s eLearning platform (http://e-extension.gov.ph). 

The DFP is an advocacy of Smart Communities, which taps Technology for Development to narrow down the digital divide. The program is also aligned with the commitment of Smart's parent company, PLDT, to support the 17 Sustainable Goals of the United Nations, particularly in promoting decent work and economic growth.  

AgriTalk is made in collaboration with the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) and the Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation (MB).