Women part of search for ten outstanding farmers

CEBU, Philippines - Now on its second year, the search and award for The Outstanding Farmers of the Philippines (TOFP) will highlight the woman farmer awardee, as it had its regional launching yesterday at the Royal Concourse in Cebu City.

The search and award for TOFP is a program of the Junior Chamber International Philippines and the Universal Harvester Inc.

JCIP national president Ryan Ravanzo said that this is the first time that they will be awarding a woman farmer, as an additional category with last year’s list.

“This will be a special category and a highlight this year as we believe in women empowerment, that men and women farmers will have equal opportunities,” Ravanzo said.

Ravanzo said that the search and awarding of outstanding farmers has been conducted by the Jaycees since the early 70’s.

The program is anchored on promoting farming in the youth sector in all regions of the country and aims to foster the steady increase of youth venturing in the agriculture sector.

“We wanted that this program will bring back interest of farming to the young people as only a few young people now are into farming,” Ravanzo said.

He added that most of young people have misconceptions about farming as this is not only about tilling the field but it now has many disciplines and phases, not only in production.

Ramil Juanico Montealto, the regional director for individual development of JCIP-Central Visayas, said that the search will be inclusive and participative, expanding from public to private sector stakeholders in agriculture, fisheries and livestock.

Montealto added that this project is open to all Filipino farmers, fisherfolk, animal raisers, cooperatives, farm communities, organizations, education or academe, agriculture scientist, local government units and public employees, and business entities in both rural and urban areas and centers.

Aside from the woman farmer awardee, there are 12 other categories to be contested which include farmer, fisherfolk, livestock, agri-entrepreneur, young farmer, agriculture innovator, urban or city farmer for the individual category.

The group category includes the agriculture cooperative, family farmer, local government unit, agriculture-initiatives and the people’s choice, which is an online poll wherein the winner shall be solely based on the number of votes garnered through the TOFARM website.

A cash prize of P50,000 await each winner for the individual category while each group winner gets P100,000.

He further stated that the nominee must have demonstrated an exceptional dedication and diligence in agriculture that had a meaningful contribution to their community, the agriculture industry as well as to the country.

For inquiries or submission for the search and award, one may reach TOFARM Secretariat Office at telephone number (02) 709-5001 to 04 or send an e-mail to [email protected] or at the JCI Philippines, (632) 373-7907 to 09 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. –(FREEMAN)