Monday, March 03, 2008 Ifugao group qualifies for Gawad Saka Award
HINGYON, Ifugao -- A farmers' group here qualified for the National Gawad Saka Search 2008.
Municipal Agriculture Officer Martha Urbano said the Anao Farmers Association (AFA), the only entry of the province, was selected for the national search.
Organized in 2002, AFA started with only 10 farmer-members. Aimed at encouraging members for self-reliance, the group, which was named Savings and Loan Group (SLG) held weekly meetings with the purpose of saving money as share capital.
In 2003, they named it as Anao Pomelo Organization in remembrance of their citrus group project. Urbano also said the association was recognized for its contribution to family and community development and is considered as the most active among the five existing organizations.
Among its accomplishments are establishment of a mini-rice mill, acquisition of farm machineries like hand tractor and thresher and fund sourcing and establishment of two multipurpose drying pavement.
The mini-rice mill of the association served the barangay by saving the cost of hauling of palay and milled rice from Anao to the adjoining Barangay Awwa, and back Urbano said. The hand tractor operated by the farmers group is with minimum payments with the use of farm machineries, labor cost of farming is lessening thus two cropping has done.
Urbano also disclosed the two multi-purpose drying pavements here is through the initiative of the organization which the farmers can benefit by drying agri-product thus wastage especially in drying is minimized.
One of the front line customers of the agriculture department, AFA is also beneficiary of the integrated pest management (IPM) long season training; municipal livelihood project on swine, organic farming/botanical pesticide formulation; and co-sponsor of the search for Mrs. Tuldag 2007.
"The members of the association were beneficiaries of the season long IPM training which impacted greatly with them. The members of the association were in the lead in promoting second cropping which would minimize hunger in the community," he said. (VDB)
