CABANATUAN CITY – The search is on for The Outstanding Farmers (TOFARM) Awards open to all farmers and agricultural organizations, including fisherfolk and livestock.
Atty. Karen Baldonado, TOFARM national chairman, said the annual search and award for outstanding farmers of the Philippines is being conducted by the Universal Harvester Inc. (UHI) in partnership with and general counsel of Junior Chamber International (JCI) – Philippines.
“Sa lahat po ng ating mga taga-Nueva Ecija at karatig probinsiya we are inviting you to nominate outstanding farmers. Pwede po itong fisherfolks, pwede rin po itong mga livestock farmers, young farmer, woman farmer, at meron din po tayong group categories such as LGUs at cooperatives,” she said.
The search for this year was launched at the Liga ng Mga Barangay Conference Room, City Hall Compound here with Mayor Myca Elizabeth Vergara, JCI Senator Jojo Matias who is a member of Nueva Ecija’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan, JCI Cabanatuan Golden Grain officers, city agriculture officials and farmers’ cooperatives. The nomination period is until Nov. 26.
The search which focuses on the impact of farming to one’s life or community, she explained, is aimed at underscoring the heroism of farmers who are rarely recognized.
While it offers P50,000 for individual and P100,000 for group categories, Baldonado believed, what matters most is recognition of farmers’ great contributions in the country.
Vergara, for her part, said the search provides a venue for sharing best practices and initiatives to emulate.
Referring to profiles of previous awardees from different parts of the Philippines, the mayor said she is thinking of having a “Lakbay Aral” (study tour) for farmers.
“To be honest, hindi sa akin sobrang importante ‘yung award. Kasi for me ‘yung pinaka-end goal ‘yung proyekto dapat maayos. But alam ko it’s always nice to be acknowledged,” Vergara, who initiated the provision of the first LGU-run rice mill, said.
Matias said JCI organizations nationwide are open to assist farmers preparing the nomination requirements and documents.
He expressed hope that being the rice granary, a number of nominees would come from Nueva Ecija.
