2008 regional Gawad Saka Agri achievers honored
Four outstanding Ilonggo farmers and three outstanding farmers associations were recognized Friday by the Department of Agriculture (DA) for their contribution in attaining food sufficiency in Western Visayas.
This year's Gawad Saka awardees are Laurenz C. Alimongking – young farmer of Leon, Iloilo; Abilay Sur Modified Farmers Association (ASMOFA) – small farmers organization of Oton, Iloilo; Rebecca C. Tubungbanua - agri-entrepreneur (HVCC processor) of Buenavista, Guimaras and Myrna Reyes – corn farmer from Passi City, Iloilo.
The other awardees are Kent Javelosa – sugarcane farmer from Sagay City, Negros Occidental; Federation of Hamtic Rural Improvement Club (RIC) from Hamtic, Antique; Eusebio Tumasis – rice farmer IFS category from Tigbauan, Iloilo; and Municipal Agricultural and Fishery Council of Leon, Iloilo.
Awardees Javelosa, Tubongbanua and the Leon Iloilo Agricultural Fishery Council will participate in the ASEAN Farmers summit to be held in Cagayan de Oro City on May May 21-25, 2008. In 2007, the Pagaypay 4-H Club of Passi City was adjudged winner in the young farmers organization in the national level.
The individual winners were given P5,000 each while the association were given P10,000 each aside from plaques and certificates. A special citation and P3,000 cash was given to Eusebio Tumasis of Tigbauan, Iloilo as an outstanding rice farmer IFS category.
DA regional director Larry Nacionales said the Gawad Saka is a yearly undertaking of the department which aims to recognize the farmers for their contribution in attaining the food sufficiency program of Western Visayas.
The regional Gawad Saka 2008 Agricultural Achievers awarding rites was held at the Amigo Terrace Hotel in Iloilo City on May 9 with a theme "Negosyo sa Sakahan at Pangisdaan Laban sa Kahirapan".
Regional winners will automatically compete in the national level before the end of this year and will receive prizes and plaques of recognition from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The winners have outstanding accomplishments in terms of agriculture and fisheries who are worth emulating by other farmers and fishermen. The yearly undertaking likewise aims to encourage farmers to adopt the latest agricultural breakthroughs in order to produce quality products.
Secretary Raul Banias, Presidential Assistant for the region said the outstanding farmers showed the way that there is "money in agriculture" by helping find solution to the food crisis and add value to agri-aqua products.