Young agri information providers in Albay experienced how it`s like to be farmers in the 1st 
Infomediary Ceremonial Harvesting at the Libon Agricultural Integrated High School, Oct. 10.
The 1-hectare rice garden, where the activity was held, is a component of the Infomediary campaign conducted by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). The two-year campaign aims to mobilize the youth to be infomediaries or information providers in the rice farming communities.
“As infomediaries, these students are living up the Rizal`s dream for the youth,” Beth Nolasco, agriculture teacher and activity lead said.
Nolasco said that having 84 horticulture students as infomediaries is one of the school’s milestones in helping communities.
As an action research, campaign lead Jaime Manalo IV, said that the Infomediary Campaign aims to address the information poverty in the county`s remote farming areas. Its strategies include provision of rice information materials in the school libraries, establishment of rice gardens in participating schools, quiz bees, and promotion of PhilRice Text Center.
The campaign has more than 80 participating Agricultural Technology Vocational schools all over the country, in which infomediary modules are integrated in the curriculum.
Anita Udsinaga, Libon municipal agriculturist; Dr. Rey Castro, PhilRice Bicol Station Manager; and representatives from the Albay Provincial Agriculturist office graced the ceremonial harvesting.
