DA 6 to use text messaging to deliver Agri-Pinoy service
Aside from the school-on-the-air program, another scheme identified to strengthen the Agri-Pinoy farm extension service delivery is through text messaging.
The plan was disclosed by DA 6 Regional Technical Director for Operations Remelyn Recoter to the 466 farmers from 22 municipalities of Iloilo province during the graduation rites of the Agri-Pinoy School-on-the-Air recently.
Recoter said almost everyone in the community has a cellular phone “and the next step in our efforts is to make use of this medium for better and faster extension service delivery.”
She said the DA 6 plans to launch in February next year the text messaging scheme through the Farmer Contact Center.
At present, the DA 6 is conducting an inventory of possible contacts for the Farmer Contact Center as the DA is doing its best to strengthen dissemination of technologies and other relevant information on agriculture and fisheries through different kinds of extension modalities.
“We have our farmer leaders, extension workers, municipal agriculturists in the region and if funds will permit, we will be sending text broadcast twice a month to send the advisories, and also to answer some queries from farmers,” Recoter said.
Recoter said that through the text messaging scheme, farmers will be provided the latest agriculture and fisheries technologies and the farmers and fishermen can also easily access information from experts on control measures for pest and diseases in their farms.*PIA6
