Project SARAI conducted Training on SARAI Systems and Technologies last January 7-10, 2025, at the Provincial Government Center, Palo, Leyte. This four-day training was conducted in partnership with the Provincial Government of Leyte through the Provincial Agriculture Office of Leyte, DOST-Regional Office VIII, and DOST-Provincial Science and Technology Office-Leyte.

The 4-day training was filled with an exchange of knowledge and skills among the resource persons and the participants. The first three days focused on providing hands-on training on Community-Level SARAI-Enhanced Agricultural Monitoring System for agricultural technicians from the different municipalities and the provincial office of Leyte, representatives from DOST Regional Office VIII, DOST-PSTO-Leyte, Visayas State University, and representatives from Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Councils from around the province. On the last day of the training, the participants were oriented on other SARAI-developed technologies, which included SPIDTECH, SARAI Knowledge Portal, and BanaTech. 

After the training, the participants also shared their impression of the training, expressing their appreciation for the SARAI technologies and saying that despite their age, they could use the technologies. During the closing ceremony, the Provincial Government of Leyte, represented by the Provincial Agricultural Officer, Ms. Imelda G. Sievert, who also led the organization of the training, shared her hope that the participants of the training would be key adopters of SARAI. Through her office, they will also monitor how the municipalities integrate CL-SEAMS in the Leyte Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries System (PAFIS).

Moreover, DOST VIII Regional Director Dr. John Glenn D. Ocaña, expressed his gratitude to all the organizers, partners, resource persons, and training participants. He emphasized that training is just the beginning of empowering the agricultural sector in Leyte. He is optimistic that the newly trained agricultural technicians and farmer leaders will lead the adoption of SARAI in their communities. He also emphasized beyond technological innovation, Project SARAI demonstrates a commitment to empowering farmers by fostering informed decision-making within the agricultural sector through the application of science-based and sustainable solutions.

The SARAI team in Leyte was led by Dr. Loucel E. Cui (Assistant Professor, UPLB-SESAM), the Project Leader of SARAI CapDev; SARAI CapDev consultants: Assoc. Prof. Concepcion Khan (Associate Professor, UPLB-CAS-ICS) and Ms. Glaisa R. Garcia (University Research Associate, UPLB-CAFS-iCrops); and SARAI Researchers: Ms. Maria Regina V. Regalado, Mr. Rovel Jan G. Bosi, Mr. Howard Lee A. Andres, and Engr. Leo Neil T. Viado. 

This training is part of the activities of the project titled “Cultivating the successes of SARAI: Empowering Agricultural Stakeholders through Knowledge and Capacity Building (Project SARAI CapDev)” under the School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD). To boost the adoption of developed SARAI systems and technologies, SARAI CapDev has also partnered with the Municipality of Borbon, Cebu, the Provincial Government of Northern, Samar, Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office VIII, the Provincial Government of South Cotabato, DOST-PSTO Occidental Mindoro, DOST-PSTO Cavite, and DOST-PSTO South Cotabato. SARAI CapDev continues to deploy SARAI technologies by establishing more partnerships and conducting capacity-building activities. (Maria Regina Regalado)