“We should marry or embrace the power of social media in streaming our broadcasts, like school-on-the-air episodes, because these are new forms of communication that are worldwide, interactive, and immediate. For us, agricultural development practitioners, social media tools can expand our reach in strengthening partnerships, supporting initiatives, and providing means to increase involvement of our relevant stakeholders in the agriculture sector,” said Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division (AFID) Chief Cheryl C. Suarez.

The three-day event had been productive as the participants gained additional relevant information through discussions on the relevance of farmcasting amid social media, maximizing online presence via social media, and farmcasting using Facebook® live; and presentation about sustainable organic farming, featuring a flourishing integrated farm in Davao.

Separate business meetings of RIOs and Farmcasters were also done to bring up some issues and concerns, give some updates on communication programs, and for them to exchange ideas on how to best communicate the programs of the DA and bring these closer to the clientele. Assessment on the localization of information dissemination on postharvest and mechanization technologies was discussed among the RIOs; while reorganizing the Kapisanan ng mga Farmcaster ng Pilipinas and developing its vision, mission, and objectives were coordinated between the farmcasters.

Almost 100 persons attended the activity including DA CALABARZON RIO Patria T. Bulanhagui and Regional Farmcaster Amylyn Rey Castro.

AFID spearheaded the event while DA Region XI through its Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (RAFIS) hosted the programme.