As the country accelerates efforts to modernize agriculture, PLDT and Smart continue to strengthen their commitment to bridging the digital divide in farming communities nationwide. In partnership with the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), the PLDT Group is scaling the award-winning Digital Farmers Program (DFP) to equip farmers with the digital skills and tools needed to thrive in a more tech-enabled agricultural sector.
In 2025, PLDT, Smart, and the DA-ATI reached over 1,300 farmers, rural youth, and agricultural extension workers nationwide through capacity-building trainings under DFP, equipping participants with essential digital literacy, online safety, and entrepreneurship skills.
For many farmers, digital upskilling is already opening doors to new income streams. Participants of PLDT and Smart-supported mentoring initiatives have shared how adopting e-commerce and digital marketing helped them connect directly with buyers and increase income, with some farmers reporting gains of up to 200 percent.
Complementing these trainings, PLDT and Smart also supported DA-ATI in the deployment of 27 FarmTech packages to various farming communities nationwide. Through its social arm, PLDT Smart Foundation, the Group has also provided FarmTech kits to agricultural cooperatives, farmer organizations, and local government units across Luzon and Visayas.
FarmTech is a portable, all-in-one digital training package that includes devices, connectivity solutions, and curated learning content designed for rural and remote areas. It enables farmer organizations to conduct on-site trainings on digital literacy, online safety, e-commerce, and emerging agri-technologies, even in areas with limited infrastructure.
As the program continues to evolve, PLDT and Smart underscore the critical role of digital tools in making farming more sustainable, resilient, and attractive to future generations.
"Technology is a powerful enabler. By equipping our farmers with digital tools, we help them connect to broader markets and strengthen their economic participation," says Roby Alampay, FVP and Head of Public Engagement at PLDT and Smart. "Our goal remains clear: ensuring no one is left behind in the country’s digital transformation journey."
Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Engagement at PLDT and Smart, added: "Digital inclusion is about creating opportunities. Together with DA-ATI, we are empowering farmers to thrive in the digital economy and making agriculture attractive to the next generation."
DA-ATI Dir. Remelyn R. Recoter emphasized the value of the partnership in accelerating digital transformation in agriculture. “Programs like the DFP help ensure that our farmers and extension workers are equipped with the skills needed to adapt to modern farming and market demands,” said Recoter. “This collaboration with PLDT and Smart supports our broader goal of building a more resilient and competitive agriculture sector.”
Launched in 2019, the Digital Farmers Program has steadily expanded through partnerships with public- and private-sector stakeholders, reaching farming communities nationwide. PLDT, Smart, and DA-ATI, together with their partners, remain committed to strengthening the program, building on its cumulative impact to support a more inclusive, digitally-enabled agriculture sector.
Through sustained collaboration and technology-driven interventions, PLDT and Smart are helping Filipino farmers adapt to a rapidly changing economy, equipping them to grow, compete, and thrive in the digital age.
