THE GOVERNMENT, thru the Department of Agriculture (DA), continues to pay tribute and recognition to the exceptional achievements of the farmers and fishers who have contributed to the overall growth of the agri sector for the past year.
This year, rice farmer Reynaldo Diaz, leads the 22 other awardees of the 45thGawad Saka who will receive presidential citations and commendations because of their hard work and determination to succeed and attain record-breaking production and income.
Fifty-seven year-old Diaz, from Tapulao, Orani, Bataan started his farming career with a one-hectare (ha) land in 1989. He developed the area and planted it to rice. Eventually, he diversified and expanded it to its current area of 2.5 has.
To maximize the farmlot, he planted mango, gabi, and assorted vegetables and raised ducks, tilapia, native pigs, chicken, and goat on the vacant areas.
Thru his hard work, Diaz’ farm surpassed the 1 million peso/ha/year target with a total income of P1,512,303 in 2014. He attributes his success not only to his dedication but to the interventions and assistance provided for him by the DA.
Today, December 9, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala will honor Diaz along with other outstanding achievers who now belong in the Gawad Saka league of champions during fitting ceremonies at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City.
According to Alcala, the latest group of awardees have led the country towards a more developed and competitive agriculture and fisheries sector.
“Thanks to their contributions, the country’s agri sector remains at par with other ASEAN nations,” he said.
The awardees consist of 14 individual awardees and nine groups/associations including the outstanding farm family from Sto. Nino, South Cotabato who manages a five-hectare integrated farm and a young farmer from Cagayan who could have been a teacher but decided to continue the family’s farming legacy.
Diaz, top corn producer Joel Cabanayan, and twelve other individual winners, alongside this year’s outstanding family of farmers will take home P200,000 cash award. Two other individual winners, in the field of science and research, will each get P900,000 in grant and P100,000 as cash prize.
All group winners, with the exemption of the Outstanding Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (FARMC), will each receive P50,000 in cash award and P300,000 in project grant. FARMC will given P450,000 in cash award.
All winners will also be awarded a presidential trophy and a presidential citation.
Other winners under the individual categories are: Outstanding Coconut Farmer – Edgar Buhian, Misamis Oriental; Sugarcane Farmer – Girlie Adug, North Cotabato; High Value Crop Farmer – Melchor Diego, Bulacan; Agricultural Entrepreneur – Ricardo Tolentino, Ilocos Norte; Organic Farmer - Valerio Ramos, Benguet; Small Animal Raiser – Joel Callano, Surigao del Sur; Large Animal Raiser – Esperidion Acla, Pagadian City; Capture Fisheries – Jose Alburo, Occidental Mindoro; Aquaculture – Christopher Cangco, Pampanga; Young Farmer/Fisherfolk – Rovelle Mendoza, Cagayan; Agricultural Researcher – Wilhelmina Castaneda, Ilocos Norte; Agricultural Scientist – Dr. Allan Dargantes, Bukidnon.
For the Group categories, the winners are: Outstanding Young Farmer/Fisherfolk Organization – Nature Friendly 4H Club, Cagayan; Farm/Fisherfolk Family – Mr. & Mrs. Antonio Lentija, South Cotabato; Rural Improvement Club (RIC) – Bagacay RIC, Sorsogon; Small Farmer/Fisherfolk Organization – Santiago Amos Credit & Development Coop (SACDECO), Isabela; Provincial Agricultural & Fishery Council – Quirino Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council (PAFC), Quirino; City/Municipal Agricultural & Fishery Council – Science City of Munoz Agricultural & Fishery Council, Munoz, Nueva Ecija; Barangay Food Terminal (Non-LGU Operated) – St. Joseph Parish Multipurpose Cooperative Belance BFT – Nueva Vizcaya; Barangay Food Terminal (LGU Operated) – San Fernando BFT – San Fernando, Masbate; FARMC – Bindoy FARMC, Negros Oriental. # Source – www.da.gov.ph
No comments:
Post a Comment