The winning entry.
A PhilRice photographer recently won in the 5th IREX Make a Better World Photo Contest, May 10.
The International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX), a US-based non-profit organization, selected best images of scenes and individuals around the world that demonstrate one or more of four theme categories: empowering youth, cultivating leaders, strengthening institutions, and extending access to quality education and information.
Jayson C. Berto, a videographer and writer from the Institute’s Development Communication Division, won in the empowering youth category and received $250 cash prize.
Berto’s winning entry titled Youth in rice farming is about the students’ involvement in the Infomediary Campaign in Asuncion, Davao del Norte. The photo shows how the students are using the Leaf Color Chart (LCC), a tool to monitor nitrogen fertilizer requirement of a rice plant.
“The knowledge and experiences on modern technologies that these students gained from their school could help improve rice farming in their neighboring communities,” Berto said.
IREX cited that “activities like this introduces youth to technologies and tools that help prepare them for the workforce and become active community leaders.”
In March, Berto also received an international award as a videographer from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the Advancing Asia Conference in India. The winning video documented how the Infomediary Campaign-participating school engaged the farmers in the community by leading an agricultural extension activity.
For more information on the campaign, visit www.infomediary4d.com.
