BACOLOD City – Multi-awarded Negrense farmer Jesus Antonio Orbida has been chosen as one of the finalists in this year’s National Organic Agriculture Achievers’ Awards (NOAAA) of the Department of Agriculture.
Orbida – an integrated and organic farmer based in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental – is one of the three vying for the award in the outstanding small farmer (individual) category.
“This new recognition is just a bonus for our hard work as organic farming practitioners,” Orbida said on Wednesday.
He added the bigger reward would be to encourage and teach more farmers to go organic.
Orbida runs the PeacePond, a farm and fish production area of about five hectares in Barangay Enclaro, which promotes integrated and diversified farming.
The PeacePond Eco Tourism Events and Learning Center is also the only farm tourism site in the southern part of Negros Occidental accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT).
As part of the evaluation before the awarding ceremony in November, the DA’s National Technical Search Committee will visit the area for a field validation on August 27 to 30.
Previous recognitions he received include the Outstanding Coconut Farmer in Negros Occidental’s Pasidungog sa Panguma, Pangisda kag Pangkasapatan in 2017; Negros Island Outstanding Coconut Farmer in 2017; Outstanding Coconut Farmer in the Third Niyogros Festival and 2018 Regional Coconut Week Celebration; 2018 Regional Gawad Saka Outstanding Coconut Farmer; and national finalist Outstanding Coconut Farmer in 2018. (With a report from PNA/PN)
