Benguet ‘Farmer of the Year’ award mulled

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A search for outstanding farmers in the province may commence once the law is amended.

The amendments to the existing Benguet Awards Ordinance to include farmers championing the industry was suggested by both board members Leonardo Lawana and Blas Dalus during this week’s regular session.

Amendments to the existing law include the term of service the Committee on Awards will take on which is now raised to span three years, extending their terms aiming to have a continuous

search for awardees.

Another amendment is the inclusion of the ‘ Farmer Year Award’.

The awardee must be a resident of the province and must have introduced innovations in the field of agriculture, conducted research advancing agricultural knowledge or helped bring progress to the farmers and created marketing opportunities.

“Yung future awardee, dapat yung makalumang pamamaraan ng pagtatanim ang ginagawa niya. Dapat yun lang din ang source ng income niya pero kahit ganun, dapat napagaaral pa rin niya yung anak niya,” Dalus said.

Board Member Robert Namoro meanwhile the award should also include miners as Benguet mainly rely on mining and agriculture as a major source of livelihood for residents in the province.

“Hindi lang naman mga farmers ang nagcocontribute sa ekonomiya ng Benguet. Dapat alalahanin din natin yung mga minero at bigyan sila ng pabor ng sa ganun magstrive sila na mag- abide sa rules and regulations at para malaman nila na under observations sila. Kasi their safety is also our concern,” Namoro explained.

However, Dalus argued there is still no law legalizing mining in the province.

“Wala pang guideline. Wala pa yung minahang bayan at guideline. Actually yung mining is considered illegal yan,” Dalus said referring to small scale mining.

Based on the La Trinidad Municipal Agriculture office, data reveals there are 7,000 farmers in the province capital alone in 2014.

At present, the province still holds 80% of vegetable market inputs nationwide, with highland produce easily supplying the needs of lowland areas all year round. With a report from Princess Camille Peralta, Mariano Marcos State University Intern