PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. are steadfast in their efforts to enhance opportunities for farmers, cooperatives, and micro-, small-, and medium-sized entrepreneurs (MSMEs) with the help of innovative digital solutions.
PLDT Group supported a recent webinar organized by Grow Asia and the Philippines Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA) titled "Byte-Sized Harvests: Empowering Agripreneurship through Digital Marketing." More than 500 farmers, MSMEs, cooperative representatives, and traders of agriculture-related products and services from all over the Philippines attended the two-day, digital learning series held via Zoom and Facebook Live. The Digital Learning Series is a project under Grow Asia's GrowVentures program on agri-food innovation and is supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) of the Government of Korea through the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
"Online selling through social media and e-commerce platforms has become an effective means to grow one's business. At PLDT and Smart, we aim to provide opportunities for farmers and MSMEs to increase their profitability and expand their reach by helping them gain digital marketing skills and offering reliable connectivity," said PLDT and Smart Assistant Vice President and Stakeholder Management Head Stephanie V. Orlino.
"Grow Asia and the PPSA recognize that e-commerce, social media, digital marketing—these digital solutions hold great promise in helping address challenges in our agri sector, especially in linking farmers to markets, increasing income streams, and providing them access to essential information," said PPSA Country Director Angel Bautista.
With eBizNovation, PLDT and Smart's program that provides MSMEs access to technology and upskilling trainings, the telcos introduced to the participants effective online selling strategies, including what content to produce and which e-commerce platforms to use, as well as internet safety tips to help them avoid scams. Through eBizNovation, PLDT and Smart also help MSMEs and farmers onboard to e-commerce platforms. PLDT and Smart have previously partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, local chambers of commerce, and various e-commerce platforms for this program.
Those who wish to learn about digital marketing and mobile phone safety may tune in to the webinar on PPSA's YouTube channel: youtu.be/KvY_shQH6x8
PLDT and Smart’s support for MSMEs and farmers underscores the group's commitment toward nation-building and is in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals 1—No Poverty, and 8—Decent Work and Economic Growth.
