PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continue to advance digital inclusion in agriculture through the Digital Farmers Program (DFP).
Together with the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) Region V, the group recently turned over a FarmTech kit to the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) to support DFP-certified faculty trainers and agricultural extension workers from local government units across the Bicol Region.
“PLDT and Smart’s partnership with CBSUA and DA-ATI reflects our commitment to supporting farming communities through digital inclusion,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and head of Stakeholder Engagement at PLDT and Smart, during her remarks.
FarmTech is a portable training package designed to equip farmer organizations—especially those in remote communities—with access to tools, connectivity, and curated learning materials, for peer-led training in digital agriculture. Each kit includes 10 smartphones, a trainer’s tablet, a Smart Bro Pocket WiFi with starter load, a portable projector, speaker, microphone, and agri-related learning materials. FarmTech is one of the components of the Digital Farmers Program (DFP), the award-winning digital inclusion program of PLDT and Smart with DA-ATI.
The FarmTech kit provided to CBSUA will be used by its faculty members and agricultural extension workers to conduct digital literacy sessions for farmers. These sessions focus on smartphone and internet use to enhance farming practices, improve market access, and strengthen community-based training efforts.
Karlos Miguel Haber, Director of CBSUA’s Digital Agriculture and Innovation Center, emphasized the importance of this collaboration. “CBSUA has built strong partnerships with both government and the private sector, forming a unified front to advance agricultural technology for our farming communities,” he said. “One of our shared goals is to equip farmers with digital skills and introduce smart farming practices that can elevate their capabilities and improve agricultural outcomes.”
Basil D. Arlayusa, Agriculture Technologist of the Municipal Agriculture Office of Pili, Camarines Sur, also noted the program’s impact. “DFP is a welcome learning initiative, and the FarmTech package provides our local farmers with the opportunity to develop digital skills that are essential in today’s technology-driven environment,” he said. “These tools help farmers improve crop yields and boost productivity.”
“This partnership is more than technology—it’s about empowering our farmers to embrace innovation and secure a sustainable future for Bicol agriculture,” said Elsa Parot, Center Director of the DA-ATI Region V (ATI Bicol), in her remarks during the FarmTech handover.
Through the Digital Farmers Program, DA-ATI, PLDT and Smart continue to empower farming communities across the country. These initiatives support PLDT and Smart’s broader goal of future-proofing the agriculture sector and ensuring that farmers are not left behind in the digital age.
