TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Another farmer from this city, Honorio Clemencia of Balong, is vying for the Most Outstanding Integrated Rice-based Farmer, the most coveted award in the Gawad Saka Awards program of the Department of Agriculture.
The Gawad Saka is the DA’s yearly search for outstanding workers and players in the agricultural sector with the Most Outstanding Integrated Rice-based Farmer category intended for farmers who exemplify excellence in rice-based farming using new technologies.
Aside from his two-hectare farm where he usually plants hybrid rice varieties, Clemencia alsso raises pig and ducks, maintains a fish pond and owns a two-hectare planted with mango and other fruits like lanzones, Philippine lime and rambutan.
Clemencia believes that the following helped him win in the regional level of the search: use of organic fertilizer; local and regional trainings attended; his tree planting project; and sustained profits.
Clemencia received a plaque of recognition and P30,000.00 for his feat.
Clemencia, who started farming since 1997, narrated that his integrated farm is a big help in the education of his five children three of whom already finished college and are now working.
Like a typical story of a farmer family, Clemencia was forced to stop schooling after high school because of financial predicaments thus he turned to farming.
The criteria of the Gawad Saka Most Outstanding Integrated Rice-based Farmer are as follows: farm should not be less than one hectare integrated and diversified rice-based – 50 percent; farmer should apply new strategies and modern technologies in farming – 35 percent; and social contribution (ability to share knowledge to fellow farmers) – 15 percent.
Other nominees are Romeo Goniron of Ben-agan, Batac, Ilocos Norte; Gil Bautista of Prinza, Teresa, Rizal; Nemencio Concepcion of Mataas na Parang, San Ildefonso, Bulacan; Myrna Tabanao of Culit, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte; Genevieve Madelo of Poblacion, Banaybanay, Davao Oriental; Marben Balces of Upper Salugdako, Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur; Jose Polinar of Poblacion Norte, Batuan, Bohol; Crisanto Umba of Quezon, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental; and Franklin Cortez of Casilagan, Ilagan, Isabela.
The national winner shall receive P200,000.00 cash and a plaque of recognition.
Provincial Agriculturist Domingo Bakilan and City Agriculturist Julibert Aquino are hoping Clemencia will repeat the feat of Teodoro Kub-ao of Bulo, this city, who bagged the Most Outstanding Integrated Rice-based Farmer award in 2012.**By Darwin S. Serion/Tabuk City Information Office
