Cagayan honors agri achievers

By Benjie S. De Yro

Tuesday 26th of June 2012

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, June 26 (PIA) -- The governor will recognize the exemplary performances of Cagayanos in the field of agriculture today, as six of them and three organizations have been elevated in the national Gawad Saka awards this year.

Dr. Mildred S. Abella, provincial agriculturist, said Governor Alvaro Antonio was proud of the Cagayanos achievement and wanted to personaly thank the agricultural achievers thru a provincial recognition.

“The awards are manifestations that agriculture is still the prime mover of Cagayan’s economy. Like the rest of their counterparts in the country, our farmers and fisherfolk continue to play their role to the hilt as backbone of the economy,” Abella told PIA.

Governor Antonio, a certified farmer himself, said in earlier interviews that people should realize that the sector can be the pride of every Cagayano.

Dr. Abella identified Cagayan Valley’s entries to the national Gawad Saka awards as Herminigildo Juan (Santa Ana), Outstanding Rice Farmer; Edgardo Martin (Ballesteros), Outstanding Coconut Farmer; Rondel Dela Cruz (Santa Ana), Outstanding Fisherfolk (Capture Category); Dexter Agnir (Claveria), Outstanding Young Farmer; Dr. Eunice Layugan (Cagayan State University), Outstanding Agricultural Scientist; and Mr. and Mrs. Simplicio Valdez (Gonzaga), Outstanding Farm Family.

For the group category that made its way into the national competition, Abella identified them as the Hilltop 4-H Club (Gonzaga), Outstanding Young Farmer Organization; the Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council (PAFC) of Cagayan, Outstanding PAFC, and the Lighthouse Cooperative (Tuguegarao City) as Outstanding Agricultural Entrepreneur.

The municipality of Santa Ana will likewise be recognized as the Gawad Saka Champion Municipality in the province this year.

“The efforts of all these individuals and groups have contributed to the totality of agricultural productivity in the province and in the region. Awards or no awards, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist with the support of the government will continue to open more avenues if only to elevate the plight of our marginalized sector,” Abella said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Lucrecio Alviar, the Regional Executive Director of the Department of Agriculture, will keynote the ocassion to be held at the Cagayan State University Tuguegarao Amphitheater, this city. (BSY/PIA 2)