Seven WV outstanding farmers vie for national Gawad Saka 2007 award
A total of seven outstanding farmers and farmers' organization from Region 6 vie for national outstanding achievers in agriculture and fisheries or Gawad Saka award 2007.
The five regional nominees for the individual category came from Negros Occidental. They are Mr. Noel Horacio C. Abelarde of Bago City vying for outstanding small animal raiser category, Mrs. Trinidad M. Espinido of Talisay City for outstanding large animal raiser category, Mr. Vilmo M. Limuaco of Bacolod City for outstanding agricultural scientist, Mr. Ronald James C. Aluyen of Sipalay for outstanding young farmer category, and Mr. Felicisimo N. Pajanconi of Hinigaran for outstanding sugarcane farmer category.
While the two farmers' organization are the Pagaypay 4-H club of Passi City, Iloilo and Lambuyao Rural Improvement Club (RIC) of Oton, Iloilo will compete for national outstanding young farmer organization and outstanding RIC organization category respectively.
According to OIC-RED Larry P. Nacionales of DA 6, the seven regional nominees were selected through comprehensive record-book evaluation and field validation of regional selection committees from the provincial nominees submitted in every category.
Dir Nacionales stressed that Gawad Saka is a collective program with the farmers and fisherfolks in support to the government's goal of attaining national food security, mitigating hunger, generating jobs, reducing poverty incidence in the rural areas, and ensuring sustainability of the natural resource base.
He further stated that the annual search aims to give due recognition to individual and organization achievers who have exemplary performance and accomplishments in the agriculture and fishery sectors and should be on conformance with the growth targets and priorities of Her Excellency Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the five pillar projects of the department.
Ms. Linda Salmo, chief of the Institutional Development Unit, DA 6 said that all documents and video footages of the regional winners' farms and projects were already forwarded to the national technical committee subject for evaluation and field validation of concerned members of each category.
The awarding ceremony will be given during the Farmers and Fisherfolks month celebration this coming May 2007 at Malacañang Palace with Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo giving the award.
(JEEO/RAFID 6)