EV farmers win Gawad Saka nat'l awards

ORMOC CITY, Philippines  — Alfredo Roble, a 63-year-old farmer turned barangay official of this city led this year’s national winners of the Gawad Saka, the annual search for outstanding achievers in agriculture and fisheries.

Barangay Chairman Roble of Valencia town in this city has been cited for his achievement in harvesting up to 12 tons of palay per hectare from his two-hectare farm.

This feat clinched him the outstanding hybrid rice farmer award for a Presidential citation and trophy and a cash prize of P100,000, said DA-Region 8 executive director Antonio Gerundio and DA-8 rice focal person Rufino Ayaso III.

Another Leyteno, Dr. Carlos dela Cruz of Brgy. Balinsasayao in Abuyog town, was named this year’s agricultural scientist for his 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 young farmers’ organization awardee was from Eastern Visayas also: the Cabacungan 4-H club of Allen town in Northern Samar with a P150,000 project grant from DA-NAFC.

Another winner from the Visayas region was Desiderio Lou of Bacong town in Negros Oriental who was the 2011 Gawad Saka individual awardee for the large animal raiser category.

Together with the other winners from other regions in the country, the Visayan farmers were honored last December 13 at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang by President Benigno S. Aquino III and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala. —(FREEMAN)