A GROUP of evaluators from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and other attached agencies, including the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), are coming to Negros Occidental Tuesday, August 2, for the final evaluation of this year’s Gawad Saka awards.
Of the 11 entries from Negros Occidental, seven will undergo final evaluation after having been shortlisted as finalists in the annual national search.
Provincial Senior Agriculturist Dina Genzola said Monday that these finalists are the province’s Pasidungog sa Panguma awardees, who have been elevated as regional winners.
Today’s evaluation will concentrate on the Outstanding Young Farmer category representative by Johnic Dela Cruz of Manapla town.
In the succeeding days until August 12, the evaluation team will conduct final evaluation for Outstanding Farmers Organization category represented by the Binubuhan Youth Organization from Bago City; Outstanding Integrated Rice Farmer category -- Crisanto Umba of San Carlos City; Outstanding Rural Improvement Club category -- Hacienda Asuncion Taborda RIC of La Castellana; Outstanding Farmer Family category -- Bonifacio Villarena and family of Silay City; and Outstanding Agricultural Entrepreneur category -- Aurora Barredo of Fedrico’s Island Wine from Victorias City.
Jerry Dionson of Barangay Busay, Bago City, representing the province’s in the Outstanding Organic Farmer category, was already evaluated on July 26 and 27.
“The announcement and awarding will be held in October,” Genzola said, adding that the province has been a consistent recipient of the Gawad Saka award.
The criteria for the selection of national winners mainly include the character and values of the farmers, including their ability to innovate as well as their participation and involvement in the development of the community, Genzola said.
The Gawad Saka Award is a national search for outstanding achievers in the fields of agriculture and fisheries.
The annual search is aimed at honoring the invaluable contribution of the agricultural sector in the country’s economic performance, including farmers, fisherfolk, livestock raisers, farmers’ organizations, agri-entrepreneurs, and scientists.