Davao Norte officials fete National Gawad Saka awardees

FUNCTIONARIES of Davao del Norte bestowed recognition to a lady farmer and a banana processing company for bringing honor to the province by winning the most coveted national Gawad Saka awards last year.
Vice Governor Victorio Suaybaguio, Jr. led local officials in paying homage to Anna C. Cagulada of Braulio E. Dujali and Four Seasons Fruits Corporation (FSFC) of Tagum City, during Capitol’s first convocation program of the New Year at the Bulwagan ng Lalawigan.
Cagulada, 47, was adjudged as the country’s best integrated rice farmer for turning her family’s five-hectare land into a rice-based bio-intensive farming with an average yield of seven tons of palay per hectare. It was intercropped with bananas, coconuts, and a tilapia pond.
On the other hand, FSFC, which manufacture and ships processed banana products here and abroad, won as most outstanding agri-entrepreneur for its significant contribution to the output and livelihood of small banana growers in the province and nearby areas.
Cagulada ang FSFC were part of the 14 individuals and nine groups from around the country who bagged the National Gawad Saka annual search for outstanding achievers in agriculture and fisheries for 2011.
They received their awards from President Benigno Simeon Aquino III in simple ceremonies at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang Palace on December 13, 2011.
The winners each received a Presidential citation and trophy, and corresponding cash incentives worth P100,000 each for individual and group winners.
Gov. Rodolfo P. del Rosario, who did not make it in time for the reenactment rites as he just arrived from vacation, earlier hailed the awardees as heroes in tilling the land.
The awardees, he said, are the epitome of hard work, innovation and resilience, as they provide inspiration and motivation for other farmers and institutions to excel in their agricultural endeavors.
Under del Rosario’s leadership, Davao del Norte has already produced eight National Gawad Saka awardees.
Last year, the Department of Agriculture has declared the province as Hall of Famer, after winning the grand slam in the Regional Gawad Saka Awards for three consecutive years.