In partnership with the Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), the PLDT Group is scaling up its award-winning Digital Farmers Program (DFP), equipping farmers with digital skills and tools needed to compete in a technology-driven agricultural landscape.
Scaling digital skills
In 2025, PLDT, Smart, and DA-ATI reached more than 1,300 farmers, rural youth, and agricultural extension workers nationwide through capacity-building sessions under the DFP.
The training focused on digital literacy, online safety, and digital entrepreneurship—core skills seen as increasingly vital in modern farming.
For many participants, digital upskilling has translated into tangible economic gains. Farmers supported through PLDT and Smart’s mentoring initiatives reported that adopting e-commerce platforms and digital marketing strategies allowed them to connect directly with buyers, cutting out middlemen and expanding market reach.
Some participants reported income increases of as much as 200 percent after integrating digital tools into their operations.
FarmTech deployment nationwide
Complementing the training sessions, PLDT and Smart supported DA-ATI in deploying 27 FarmTech packages to farming communities across the country.
Through its social development arm, PLDT Smart Foundation (PSF), the Group also distributed FarmTech kits to agricultural cooperatives, farmer organizations, and local government units in Luzon and Visayas.
FarmTech is a portable, all-in-one digital training package equipped with devices, connectivity solutions, and curated learning materials tailored for rural and remote areas.
Designed to function even in communities with limited infrastructure, the kits enable on-site training on digital literacy, cybersecurity awareness, e-commerce, and emerging agricultural technologies.
The initiative aims to build long-term digital capacity at the grassroots level while supporting farmer organizations in sustaining their own training programs.
Driving Inclusive Growth
PLDT and Smart officials underscored the role of technology in strengthening economic participation in agriculture.
“Technology is a powerful enabler. By equipping our farmers with digital tools, we help them connect to broader markets and strengthen their economic participation,” said Roby Alampay, first vice president and head of public engagement at PLDT and Smart.
“Our goal remains clear: ensuring no one is left behind in the country’s digital transformation journey.”
Stephanie V. Orlino, assistant vice president and head of stakeholder engagement, emphasized that digital inclusion creates new opportunities for rural communities.
“Together with DA-ATI, we are empowering farmers to thrive in the digital economy and making agriculture attractive to the next generation,” she said.
DA-ATI Director Remelyn R. Recoter highlighted the partnership’s role in accelerating sector-wide transformation.
“Programs like the DFP help ensure that our farmers and extension workers are equipped with the skills needed to adapt to modern farming and market demands,” Recoter said.
Launched in 2019, the Digital Farmers Program has steadily expanded through public- and private-sector partnerships, reaching farming communities nationwide.
PLDT, Smart, and DA-ATI said they remain committed to strengthening the initiative to support a more resilient, competitive, and digitally enabled agriculture sector. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
