CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Farmers in the province of Zambales will now have easy access to rice-related information and technology services that could help boost their productivity.
This, after the Agricultural Training Institute-Central Luzon (ATI-CL), in partnership with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist in Zambales, completed the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Centers in the province’s 13 municipalities and a highly urbanized city.
Crisostomo Rabaca, provincial agriculture of Zambales officer-in-charge, said on Tuesday the facilities were established in every town and city of the province to reach farmers even in those far-flung areas.
Rabaca said the FITS Center will serve as the barangay information hub that will bring Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) and rice-related information and technology services to farmers at the community level, and help increase their awareness and understanding of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), and rice-related programs and services of the agriculture department.
“Itong FITS Center ay pag-aari ng lahat ng magsasaka dito, para sa ating lahat po ito. Andito po ang lahat ng impormasyon at teknolohiya na kakailanganin ninyo patungkol sa pagsasaka at pwede kayong pumunta dito para matuto (The FITS Center is for all the farmers here. This is for all of us. It is here all the information and technologies that you need in regards to farming. You can come here to learn),” Rabaca said in a statement.
Miguela Lolita Buan, the municipal agriculturist of Subic, urged the farmers to avail the services of the FITS Center.
“If you have meetings, training and other activities and if you want to get information about agriculture, do not hesitate to come here to our FITS Center. You are very much welcome here and there are assigned staff ready to help you,” Buan said in Filipino.
At least 10 more FITS centers will be put up in other parts of Central Luzon this year. (PNA)
