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FARMERS
in this computer age and globalized world rely not just
on age-old practices. They now use modern
technology—equipment and methods—to improve and increase
their production.
Who
would think that farmers would now be using computers
and the Internet to learn new farming technologies or
resorting to short message service (SMS or text
messaging) to inquire to get answers to their farming
problems?
One of
the initiatives to modernize the country’s agricultural
system through an enhanced information flow for the
benefit of extension agents, farmers and entrepreneurs
was conceived by the Philippine Council for Agriculture,
Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development
(PCARRD) of the Department of Science and Technology
(DOST) through its Techno Gabay Program.
PCARRD
said Techno Gabay serves as a powerhouse of information,
knowledge, and technology for the benefit of the
country’s agriculture, forestry, and natural resources
sectors. It aims to bring science-based information and
technology services to end-users in the agriculture,
forestry and natural resources (AFNR) sectors.
It
involves the networking of research and development
(R&D) institutions in the AFNR sectors, the regional R&D
consortia and other members of the National Agriculture
and Resources Research and Development Network (NARRDN),
the private sector, the local government units,
nongovernment organizations and other extension service
providers, thereby, enhancing technology utilization,
adoption, and commercialization. The program boasts of
servicing more than 55,000 farmers nationwide as of
2007, Dr. Danny Cardenas of PCARRD said in a recent
press briefing.
Dr.
Arturo Argañosa, PCARRD assistant director and in-charge
of Technology Outreach Promotion Division, said Techno
Gabay’s Farmers’ Information and Technology Services
(FITS) has 361 centers all over the country—including
Batanes and Benguet in the north, and Basilan and Sultan
Kudarat in Mindanao. He told science journalists in the
same press briefing that Techno Gabay provides farmers
“venue for new knowledge” that give them options and
“allow them to have informed decision” as they improve
their production capacities.
Techno
Gabay has a four-component strategy. Besides FITS or
Techno Pinoy Center, it also has the Farmer-Scientist
Bureau or Magsasaka Siyentista, Information, Education
and Communication (IEC) strategies, and Information and
Communications Technology (ICT).
Model
FITS centers include the Ubay Agri Park in Ubay, Bohol;
the Alfonso Lista in Ifugao; and the Banga in Aklan.
Ubay
FITS promoted swine fattening using commercial feeds,
native chicken in semi confinement, vegetable production
using vermicast, and tilapia fish cage culture
development, among others, while Alfonso Lista FITS is
involved in community livelihood enhancement development
that promoted the use of hybrid corn and Bio-N, and farm
mechanization technologies.
Banga
FITS excels in natural farming systems for rice, fruits
and vegetables, vermiculture and the darag native
chicken production.
Techno
Gabay’s Magsasaka Siyentista program boasts of producing
outstanding farmer-scientists. Among the recent model
Magsasaka Siyentista are engineer Raul Carreras of
Camarines Sur, Margarito Andrade of Aklan and Marcos
Dumandan of Davao City.
Carreras
has 100-hectare farm planted to a variety of crops from
rice, corn, mango to caulitflowers. His best farm
practices include his adopting the Cabo System of
management, green manuring using decomposed corn
stubbles and husks, and integrating of
crop-livestock/poultry production.
Andrade
produces quail eggs and day-old chicks with biogas
digester. He invested in three models of egg incubators,
offers incubation services, advocates natural-farming
system and ventures in chicken and quail production.
Dumandan is involved in coconut-based
integrated/multiple farming systems and is growing
cacao, coconut, durian, banana and coffee trees. He
developed the rejuvenation of unproductive cacao trees;
the top pruning of durian and other fruit trees; the
planting of tissue-cultured banana; intercropping of
coffee between cacao trees; and vermiculture and
application of vermicast as fertilizer.
According to Techno Gabay’s flyer, the FITS serves as a
one-stop service facility accessible to the majority of
farmers, entrepreneurs and other clients in a given
area. It provides fast access to information and
technologies in forms appropriate to the clients’ needs.
FITS
services include information various multimedia formats,
exhibit of new technologies and products, Internet
service, SMS and FITS databases. It also provides
technology through training and clinic, linking clients
to experts and financial institutions, technical
assistance and consultancy, support to enterprise
development, and linking with sources of planting
materials, animal stocks and agricultural inputs.
The
Magsasaka Siyentista is an outstanding farmer who is
successful in his/her use of S&T-based and indigenous
technologies.
The
Magsasaka Siyentista complements the Techno Pinoy Center
by providing services, such as resource person during
technology trainings, clinics, and seminars; technical
assistance and hands-on training during cross visits of
other farmers; promotion of S&T-based farm which
showcases the effectiveness of S&T intervention in
improving farm productivity and income; and
farmer-to-farmer advisory services.
IEC
involves research- and need-based communication
processes aimed to hasten the adoption of technologies
by FITS and Magsasaka Siyentists clients. IEC activities
include: information/technology needs assessment;
objective setting and communication setting; production
and pretesting of prototype; and dissemination of IEC
materials in appropriate formats (e.g., print,
broadcast, e-format).
ICT
facilitates information storage, retrieval, and exchange
that can provide immediate response to current problems
and frequently asked questions (FAQs). It provides
opportunities for capability enhancement through ICT
trainings; Internet link that offers quick information
access; SMS connection through SMS (0917-PCARRD8); and
FITS-information system.
Dr.
Argañosa said most FITS centers—including those in
Basilan—are Internet-connected through the ICT program. |
