Two agriculture personnel from Davao del Norte are set to compete for the National Organic Agriculture Competition after winning the regional level contest.

Marilou Runas, Provincial Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Coordinator of the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office (PAgrO) received the Regional Organic Agriculture Achiever’s Award (ROAAA) for crafting the organic agriculture integration in basic education curriculum in collaboration with the Department of Education and the Department of Education (DepEd) funded by the National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB).

“Nagahimo ta karon ug mga learning materials. Ang atoang time fram is from 2014-2017. Nahuman na namo ang pagtraining sa atong 30 ka teachers sa elementary ug secondary ug karon naga final editing nata sa atong mga learning materials, lesson plans. Kung mahan-ay nani nato pwede na sya gamiton sa probinsya, sa region or even”, Runas bared naming Asuncion National High School and Concepcion National High School as the beneficiaries. 

Runas also declared support from other non-government organizations (NGOs) like Thailand Education Foundation, for sponsoring the pesticide exposure in human blood using cholinesterase test- a blood testing that will aid the nervous system work appropriately.

“Nakita nato nga sa atong organic agriculture nga programa maglisud kita kung dili mapaspasan ang adbokasiya niini labi na gyud kung atoa siyang iapil sa DepEd o sa curriculum”, the regional awardee expounded. 

According to Runas, Davao del Norte is the first province to integrate organic agriculture in the basic education curriculum.

Meanwhile, Juniorlito Hugue, an agriculture extension worker from the municipality of New Corella, was named as the Top Performing Focal Person for his work in capacitating the farmers to utilize crop technology to raise production. 

“Duna man gd koy existing nga six hectares demo farm sa organic rice. Ang mga farmers niini ginahatagan natog mga technology kung unsaon maka-raise ug very productive nga abot sa ilang humay ug ang mga teknolohiya dira gyud sa organic, wala ta naga introduce ug chemicals, mga synthetic fertilizers”, Hugue said.

“Kami sa LGU sa New Corella naga tan aw nga sa programa ni AGR nga naga align sa organic farming nakita namo nga dako ang kalamboan nga maangkon sa Davao del Norte karon sa administrasyon ni AGR tungod kay grabe ang support nga gihatag sa project sa organic agriculture”, Hugue added.

NOAB Mindanao Representative Engr. Jimmy E. Geronimo conveyed support to these regional qualifiers to be known in the national level for their contribution in promoting organic agriculture.

“Klaro man gyud ang ilang implementation as well as complying all the requirements for the said award. Nakita nako sa nawng sa atong mga farmers, LGUs, extension workers that they are deserving pud sila nga modawat sa maong award so dili layo ang possibility nga upto the national level ma-recognized ug ma-identify sila”, cited Geronimo.

The recognition of Runas and Hugue was made during the 3rd Organic Agriculture Congress yesterday, where other top performing individuals, farmer group, family and LGU in the provincial level were also named.

The province of Davao del Norte won the Regional Search for Organic Agriculture Province in 2014 and 2015. It hopes to clinch the recognition again this year.
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