NEGRENSE Jerry Dionson of Barangay Tabunan in Bago City was named Outstanding National Organic Farmer in Small Farmer Category in this year’s National Organic Agriculture Achievers’ Award held at Plaza del Norte Hotel in Laoag City on Wednesday.
Dionson, who has been practicing integrated organic farming for almost 15 years, received the award with a cash prize of P200,000 from Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos.
“This honor is not only for me, but also for Negros Occidental. Being recognized among the many farmers in the country is a humbling experience which I would like to share to my fellow farmers in the province,” Dionson told SunStar Bacolod.
“It takes a lot of dedication and commitment to be able to attain this award,” he added, urging other farmers to also shift to organic agriculture.
The awarding rites coincided with the staging of the 13th National Organic Agriculture Congress.
Dionson is also a recipient of the 2016 Gawad Saka Award in Outstanding Organic Farmer Category. The awarding ceremony is set next month.
Aside from Dionson, the Villarenia family of Barangay Patag in Silay City was also a national finalist for Organic Farming Family Category.
This year, Negros Occidental also advanced as national finalist for the Provincial Category.
DA-Negros Island Region (NIR) Executive Director Joyce Wendam, who was also present during the awarding rites, said Dionson’s award is both a challenge and inspiration to Negrense farmers.
“Through hard work, dedication, commitment, love and passion for agriculture paired with prayers, all things are possible,” Wendam said, adding that social responsibility should be the motivating factor for every farmer to succeed.
The DA-NIR chief reiterated that excelling in the competition is a big boost to the agriculture industry of the region.
“We are proud of farmers like Pastor Jerry Dionson. This is another remarkable achievement for the NIR,” Wendam added.