PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), turned over a FarmTech training kit to the Integrated Carcar Rice Irrigators Association (ICRIA) in Carcar City, Cebu to help bridge the digital divide and enhance the digital literacy of farmers in far-flung areas.
“We are committed to leveraging technology to drive inclusive development and empower underserved communities. The FarmTech training kit is a testament to our dedication to bridging the digital divide and equipping farmers with the skills they need to thrive in the digital age and widen their livelihood opportunities,” said Marylou Gocotano, PLDT and Smart Stakeholder Management Visayas Relations Head.
ICRI expressed profound gratitude for being the first beneficiaries of this initiative in the Visayas region. “We are honored to be one of the first few recipients of FarmTech. We will utilize this resource to its fullest potential and ensure it reaches our farmers, especially those residing in remote locations,” said Teodoro Dellica, Vice President of ICRIA.
The FarmTech kit is a comprehensive technology-driven training kit designed as part of PLDT and Smart’s award-winning Digital Farmers Program (DFP), a digital inclusion program for farmers in partnership with DA-ATI.
Each package includes a tablet, 10 smartphones, a SmartBro pocket WiFi with Smart Prepaid load cards, an outdoor projector and projector screen, a rechargeable portable sound system, a flash drive containing multimedia resources and apps, and DA-ATI-developed learning materials.
This initiative is aligned with PLDT and Smart’s efforts to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal #1 (No Poverty) and Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), by empowering agricultural communities and promoting economic growth through digital literacy.
