E-village project launched in Baler

BALER, Aurora, Philippines  – At least 1,200 farmers and fisherfolks from four central municipalities in this province would gain access to modern farming systems through information communications technology following the establishment of a P39.3-million Aurora e- (electronic) village.

A brainchild of Sen. Edjardo Angara, the e-village project, the first of its kind in the country and which aims to implement a successful ICT program for the agricultural and fisherfolk communities in the towns of Dipaculao, Ma. Aurora, San Luis and this capital town, was inaugurated at the Rice Processing Complex project of the provincial government and the Korean International Cooperation Agency in Barangay Reserva here recently.

A Mobile Internet bus for farmers, equipped with laptop computers, was deployed at the RPC to bring Internet service to the masses in the province.

Angara said the project would empower farmers and fishermen by providing them with new information and communications technology through modern ICT-wares. “These include commodity-specific production system, training and technical assistance, and linkages to existing research and training institutions,” he said.

Anna Marie Medrano, of the Aurora e-village project and of the knowledge systems of the Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of Agriculture said funding for the project, amounting to P39,297,700, was sourced from the 2008 e-government fund of the Department of Budget and Management.

E-village

Angara initiated the project in partnership with the ATI, the Philippine Rice Research Institute, the Development Academy of the Philippines and the provincial government under Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo.

Angara said the e-village concept, which was first revolutionized in Indian agriculture, is an example of how modern ICT can be brought to the grassroots level. “The Aurora e-village is in response to the growing need to level up the access of our farmers to modern and well-sought information about agriculture. Through the development of this system, cooperatives, farmers, fishermen and organizations will benefit immensely,” he said.

The Aurora e-village would synchronize and implement a modern system for an effective and improved access to information that would train local folk on rice production technology, specifically orga­nic farming, managing costs, increasing le­vels of productivity and the establishment of an effective farmers’ cooperative. –Manny Galvez, Philippine Star