Outstanding agri achievers honored

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino and Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala led the nation in honoring this year’s national winners of the Gawad Saka, or the annual search for outstanding achievers in agriculture and fisheries, in simple ceremonies last Dec. 13, at Rizal Hall, in Malacañang. 

The 2011 Gawad Saka national winners, composed of 14 individuals and nine groups, each received a Presidential citation and trophy, and corresponding cash incentives for individual winners and project grants for group winners, totaling P4.25 million.

Anna C. Cagulada, a 47-year old lady farmer from Dujali, Davao del Norte, and Alfredo Q. Roble, a 63-year old farmer turned barangay official from Ormoc City, Leyte led this year’s Gawad Saka awardees.

 For her feat in transforming their family’s five-hectare farmlot into a productive rice-based enterprise—producing an average of seven tons of palay per hectare, along with other products like banana, coconut and tilapia—Cagulada was adjudged as the country’s best integrated rice farmer.

 For his part, barangay chairman Roble of Valencia, Ormoc City, has managed to harvest up to 12 tons of palay per hectare from his two-hectare farm, enabling him to clinch the  outstanding hybrid rice farmer award.

 Cagulada and Roble, along with other individual winners each received a cash award of P100,000.

 This year’s agricultural scientist is Dr. Carlos dela Cruz, of Balinsasayao, Abuyog, Leyte. He conducted breakthrough researches on jackfruit production and pest management. He received a project grant of P1 million from the DA’s Bureau of Agriculture Research (BAR).

 The other 2011 Gawad Saka individual awardees are:

• Corn farmer – Diosdado  M. Bermudez, of Ilagan, Isabela;

• Coconut farmer – Wilfredo C. Martinez (San Luis, Aurora);

• Sugarcane farmer – Roberto A. Cauilan (Solana, Cagayan);

• High value crops farmer – Francisco B. Ching (Mankayan, Benguet);

• Agri-entrepreneur – Ian C. Neo (Tagum City);

• Organic farmer – Benjamin R. Lao (Bansalan, Davao del Sur);

• Fisherfolk (fish culture) – Danilo C. Trongco (Lagangilang, Abra);

• Fisherfolk (fish capture) – Eddie V. Amorada (Sta. Ana, Cagayan);

• Large animal raiser – Desiderio I. Lou (Bacong, Negros Oriental);

• Small animal raiser – Genice B. Dalisdis (Tuba, Benguet); and

• Young farmer – Anthony P. Suguitao (Aroroy, Masbate).

The group awardees were led by the Calumpit Multi-Purpose Cooperative from Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro which received a project grant of P150,000 from the DA-National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC).

The other group winners are:

• Farm family – Mr & Mrs. Ceferino Dureza & family (Brooke’s Point, Palawan). They received a P100,000 cash award.

• Young farmers’ organization – Cabacungan 4-H club (Allen, Northern Samar); with a P150,000 project grant from DA-NAFC.

• Rural Improvement Club (RIC) – Balidbid RIC (Salcedo, Ilocos Sur); with a P150,000 project grant from DA-NAFC.

• Municipal Agricultural & Fishery Council (MAFC) – Kayapa MAFC, Nueva Vizcaya; with a P150,000 project grant from DA-NAFC.

• Provincial Agricultural & Fishery Council (PAFC) – Nueva Vizcaya PAFC; with a P250,000 project grant from DA-NAFC.

• Barangay Food Terminal (LGU-operated) – Bgy. Rebokon, Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur. It will receive a P350,000 cash award from DA-AMAS.

• Barangay Food Terminal (Non-LGU operated) – Sayapot Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Tadian, Mt. Province. It will receive a P300,000 cash award from DA-AMAS.

• Fishery & Aquatic Resources Management Council (FARMC) – Bani FARMC, Pangasinan. It will receive a P300,000 cash award from DA-BFAR.