 |
| (Image Source: Manila Standard/Smart Communications) |
In celebration of National Farmers and Fisherfolk Month, PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) recently piloted the #FarmSmart Farm program in Santa Cruz, Occidental Mindoro in partnership with social agri-enterprise Farmvocacy. “In our mission to help improve the livelihood of Filipino farmers, PLDT and Smart are also committed to promoting sustainable farming practices. The #FarmSmart Farm program fits perfectly in our organization as we further embed sustainability in our core business and corporate shared value programs,” said Smart Communications Assistant Vice President (AVP) and Stakeholder Management Head Stephanie Orlino.
In line with the PLDT group’s sustainability agenda, #FarmSmart Farm aims to increase the income of small-holder farmers by creating a climate-smart farming ecosystem where rice growers use environment-friendly inputs to boost their produce while preventing damage to nature. “Technology has allowed us to fight pests and diseases without harming beneficial microorganisms. In three to five years, we will see our farmers use the internet in their daily activities,” said Farmvocacy Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Vincent Roy Mendoza. Under the program, PLDT and Smart will sponsor partner rice growers’ farm inputs, which include organic fertilizers, farm machineries, and other items, saving them from high-interest loans.
Fifty-three-year-old Romulo Halili of Barangay Kurtingan can attest to the benefits of environment-friendly materials stating, “Organic fertilizers not only help ensure a bountiful harvest, they also prevent soil damage which helps sustain good yield in succeeding planting seasons.” PLDT and Smart also provided Farmvocacy access to the Smart Infocast platform which they will use to quickly send out information and instructions to farmers. One key activity under the program is a field experiment showing rice growers that sustainable materials and practices aided by timely reminders via Smart Infocast will result in a more abundant harvest. PLDT, Smart and Farmvocacy have teamed up with the Philippine Rice Research Institute, Occidental Mindoro State College, Enviro Scope Synergy Inc., and the local government unit of Santa Cruz through the Municipal Agriculture Office to guide farmers throughout the project.
Come harvest season, PLDT and Smart will connect beneficiaries directly with consumers through the Buy Local initiative, eliminating the need for middlemen and ensuring fair market price for their goods. The #FarmSmart Farm initiative emphasizes the PLDT group’s commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals on Zero Hunger and Good Health and Well-Being.
