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Expanded in
2001, the Techno Gabay Program (TGP) of PCARRD is one of the extension
delivery models being adopted in the country’s agricultural
system to develop the agribusiness sector.
Now
on its sixth year, PCARRD’s TGP still leads in hastening the
modernization of the agriculture sector by enhancing extension agents’,
farmers’ and entrepreneurs’ access to information and
technologies. Since last year, PCARRD’s TGP team has been
busy with introducing technological options for its pool of Magsasaka
Siyentista (MS), the Farmers’ Information and Technology
Service (FITS) Centers or Techno Pinoy, and their target clients,
such as farmers and entrepreneurs.
K-AgriNet
With the program “Knowledge Networking towards Enterprising
Agricultural Communities” or K-AgriNet launched last year,
farming communities in the rural areas will be endowed with information
and communications technology (ICT) to access information, modern
technologies, and indigenous knowledge.
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K-AgriNet
has four components: Open Academy, e-Consortia, e-Farm, and
e-Agrikultura. Under PCARRD are the e-Consortia and the e-Farm
project components. |
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PCARRD’s
e-Consortia focuses on enhancing regional research and development
(R&D) management and intensifying technology/knowledge
generation and exchange. This component aims to improve ICT
resources in PCARRD’s 14 regional consortia and to sustain
R&D information and technology delivery through the ICT-enabled
regional R&D Information service.
On
the other hand, the e-Farm is a system that promotes knowledge-based
e-commerce by initiating e-based farm-to-market opportunities
through established FITS centers.
Through
the e-Farm, 80 FITS Centers all over the country will be e-connected;
FITS databases and other ICT applications, web-enabled; ICT
capability of FITS staff and other extension workers, strengthened;
market linkages through e-trade, expanded; and MS and small
and medium enterprises, capacitated toward e-commerce.
To
fast-track activities of the e-Farm and the e-Consortia, PCARRD
conducted a series of consultation and operational planning
workshops late last year and early this year.
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messaging service for AFNR
As part of the e-Consortia and e-Farm components of the K-Agrinet
Program, PCARRD has developed a short messaging service (SMS)
to provide quick access to available information in agriculture,
forestry, and natural resources (AFNR).
With the
system, farmers, entrepreneurs, and other clients will be
able to text and receive quick response to their queries on
publications, technologies, experts, contact firms, and other
matters related to AFNR.
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messaging is so popular in the Philippines and tapping it will enable
our clients to benefit from the wealth of information and technologies
available at PCARRD and its AFNR network,” said Dr. Patricio
S. Faylon, PCARRD Executive Director.
Enhancing FITS centers
To bolster the centers’ ICT capabilities, the project “Enhancing
FITS centers for rural development” will be implemented this
year. The project focuses on enhancing the information and delivery
capabilities of the FITS and the MS; packaging and dissemination
of appropriate science and technology (S&T)-based content, and
expanding services of the centers toward increasing value of agricultural
products.
The
national government, through DOST, will provide the P100 million
fund for this project.
The
program supplements K-AgriNet, which endowed the FITS and MS with
ICT hardware and capabilities. Aside from making the FITS and their
respective MS more ICT-enabled, the program will also focus on support
to enterprises.
With
these developments, it is expected that TGP will reach more farmers
all over the country and its services boosted, making its grassroots
presence stronger. (Butch S. Pagcaliwagan, S&T Media Service)
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