Program bridges agriculture and digital innovation to empower farmers, strengthen extension services
BUTUAN CITY — The Agricultural Training Institute–Regional Training Center XIII (ATI-RTC XIII) has strengthened its drive toward a more tech-enabled agriculture sector by formally introducing its pioneering Agri-IGNITE Program to faculty and staff of the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CCIS) at Caraga State University (CSU) in Ampayon, Butuan City.
The initiative, led by Information Services Section (ISS) Chief and Information Officer III Jason Paul Dads E. Jampac together with Media Production Specialist II Vic Thor A. Palarca, underscores ATI-Caraga’s commitment to integrating cutting-edge digital tools into agricultural extension and training services. Agri-IGNITE—short for Agri-Innovation Generating New Ideas & Technology for Excellence—serves as a multidimensional platform designed to connect the region’s agricultural and academic communities.
During the engagement, ATI highlighted how the program strengthens collaboration with universities by enabling Information Technology (IT) students to contribute to real-world agricultural solutions. Under the program, selected students undergo a three-month on-the-job training with ATI and its accredited Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSAs). This exposure allows them to combine technical training with hands-on fieldwork, immersing them in proven farming practices and emerging agri-technologies.
The partnership gives future IT professionals the opportunity to develop digital tools tailored for farmers—ranging from farm management applications to automated systems—while also deepening their appreciation of agriculture’s evolving challenges and opportunities.
Representing CCIS during the activity were Project Leader for Agri-Aqua DA-DTI (ATBI) Ms. Jen Asis, CSU Professor Dr. Riah Encarnacion, and Mr. Kenneth Boyles. They welcomed the program’s structured approach, which moves from ideation and pitching (Phase 1) to development and refinement (Phase 2), and culminates in pilot implementation (Phase 3). This roadmap enables sustained collaboration, continuous improvement, and strong support for student-led innovations.
Agri-IGNITE has been gaining momentum across the region. Earlier this year, the program was launched at the College of Computing and Information Sciences of the Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT) in Bunawan, where students began crafting digital solutions tailored for farm productivity, climate adaptation, and market access.
Why This Partnership Matters
The growing integration of agriculture and digital technology is becoming essential to address modern challenges—from climate variability to labor shortages and the need for faster, data-driven decision-making at the farm level.
The ATI-CSU partnership stands as a forward-looking model of innovation, showing how the academe and government can jointly develop technologies that are practical, accessible, and farmer-centered. By empowering students to work directly with farmers, the program accelerates the translation of classroom knowledge into functional digital tools that solve real problems on the ground.
Such collaborations cultivate a new generation of tech-driven agricultural champions while equipping farmers with innovations that improve productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. As Caraga continues to strengthen its agriculture sector, initiatives like Agri-IGNITE demonstrate how technology, teamwork, and community engagement can spark breakthroughs that shape the future of farming.
Contributed article by Mr. Vic Thor A. Palarca