GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Three farmers and a local agriculture and fishery council in South Cotabato have been chosen as finalists in the 2018 National Gawad Saka search.
Justina Navarrete, chief of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, said Friday the four finalists were among the six entries from the province that topped this year’s regional search based on results released by the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Region 12 (Soccsksargen).
She said Daniel Apostol of Koronadal City will vie for the outstanding high value crop farmer category, Jesus Dignadice of Polomolok for the outstanding coconut farmer category and Engr. Ernesto Pantua Jr. of Tupi for the outstanding organic farmer category.
The Tampakan Municipal Agricultural and Fishery Council (MAFC) made it to the outstanding MAFC category, she said.
“This a huge boost to our farming sector and we’re hoping that our entries will also make it in the national awards,” she said.
Navarrete said the other winners from the province in the 2018 Regional Gawad Saka search are Jose Lorenzo of Tupi as outstanding corn farmer and Arriane Sarah Dulduco-Ho of Tupi as outstanding agri-entrepreneur.
The winners formally received their awards on Wednesday night in a ceremony hosted by DA-12 in Koronadal City.
The individual winners were given PHP30,000 each as cash incentives while the Tampakan MAFC received PHP50,000.
The Gawad Saka search is an annual awards program of the DA that aims to recognize the achievement of local farmers, fisherfolk and farming organizations.
In last year’s National Gawad Saka awards, Soccsksargen bagged two of the top awards.
Gerardo Cordero of Koronadal City emerged as the most outstanding coconut farmer and Dr. Emma Sales of North Cotabato as most outstanding agricultural scientist.
Apostol, who is mainly into organic farming, is a perennial winner in the Regional Gawad Saka search and had been a finalist in the national level.
He was chosen anew as national finalist in the high value crop farmer category for adopting various post-production innovations.
“There is more money in post-production ventures,” said Apostol, who owns a farm in Koronadal City planted with various fruit bearing trees.
“After production, a farmer can sell his produce in raw or opt to process them to earn more. I chose the latter and it’s been so good so far,” he said.
Apostol is currently into fruit processing, with his mangosteen herbal supplement as top product. ( /PNA)
