Davao Oriental wins region's Gawad Saka
DAVAO CITY – Endowed with a large swathe of highly productive agricultural lands – the biggest in Davao Region, the province of Davao Oriental has emerged as the overall champion for this year’s Regional Gawad Saka Search for Agri-Fishery Achievers and Rice Achievers.
Proudly clad in Filipiniana and barong tagalog, farmers from the province of Davao Oriental along with the Provincial Agriculture and Veterinary chiefs and some local chief executives led by Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang joined other awardees from other provinces during the Department of Agriculture’s Gawad Saka and Rice Achievers awarding ceremonies on May 31 at the Grand Regal Hotel in Davao City.
Having the most number of agri-fishery and rice achievers for this year with a total of ten regional awardees out of 23 categories, the province of Davao Oriental is said to have taken the lead in terms of agriculture.
Among the local farmers including farmers’ organizations and technicians from Davao Oriental who stood out as big winners in the Davao Region’s agriculture awards are:
Governor Dayanghirang, who delivered his speech on Thursday’s ceremony, congratulated all the awardees.
He emphasized the huge role of farmers and fisherfolk not only in feeding the country’s ever-growing population but also in propelling economies. Being blessed with highly-productive lands suitable for agriculture, the country’s agricultural productivity, he said, lies entirely in the hands of farmers and fisherfolk who grow the bulk of the food.KAREN LOU DELOSO