Search for Outstanding Agri-Achievers on
Dir. Larry P. Nacionales of the Department of Agriculture announced recently that the search for outstanding agricultural achievers or Gawad Saka is being conducted in Western Visayas to recognize the exemplary contribution of individuals or organizations in agriculture and fisheries. The director said that the search is expected to motivate other stakeholders in order to showcase their farms and projects for others to emulate.
Dir. Nacionales said that the activities of the nominees must be in line with the modernization in agriculture and fisheries and also maximize their contribution to the national economy considering that 70 % of the Filipinos who live in the rural areas are dependent in agriculture and fisheries as their main source of livelihood.
The director is encouraging the local government units and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturists to nominate qualified individuals and organizations as incentive to those who have enhanced their technologies and improve their technologies and income-generating activities.
The search for outstanding agricultural achievers is a yearly activity of the Department of Agriculture. There are a number of regional nominees who were adjudged as national winners. The most recent is the Pagaypay 4-H Club of Passi City. The Club is into pineapple wine and jam making. The Pagaypay 4-H Club was the outstanding young farmer organization in 2007.
There are 19 categories and these are the following: young farmer/fisherfolk, rice farmer, corn farmer, farmer producer and processor of high value commercial crops, corn farmer, sugarcane farmer, organic farmer and agricultural scientist.
For livestock, the categories are small animal raiser and large animal raiser. The search also includes organizations such as: young farmer/fisherfolk organization, rural improvement club, small farmer/fisherfolk organization, municipal and provincial agricultural and fishery council. The other categories are farm family and agricultural entrepreneur.
The nominees are evaluated according to their economic activities, social activities and accomplishments, farm management and profitability, community participation and achievements. Their farm management skills and farm record keeping are also some of the important factors to be considered.
Nominees from the different provinces will be submitted to the Regional Technical Committee from March 1-16, 2009. The nominees will be evaluated from March 27-31 this year. The awarding of national winners will be on the last week of May at the Malacañang Palace with Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as guest of honor.
National outstanding individual achievers will receive P100,000 in cash prize while outstanding organizations will receive P150,000 in project grants. They will also receive a presidential trophy and a presidential citation. Individual awardees with soecial citation will receive P30,000 in cash while distinguished organizations will receive P75,000 in project grants. (TAG/RAFID 6)