Salcedo Farmer Gets Gawad Saka Outstanding Coconut Farmer Award

Raymundo Awa-aw of Brgy. Tagbacan, Salcedo, Eastern Samar received the Regional Outstanding Coconut Farmer Award from the Department of Agriculture during the Regional Gawad Saka Awards held on May 31 at the Summit Hotel in Tacloban City.

Romeo Floretes, officer-in charge of the Philippine Coconut Authority in Eastern Samar, said that Awa-aw was awarded for his increasing production of coconuts and intercrops like coffee, cacao, banana and a host of other vegetables.

Awa-aw received P50 thousand for his diligence in attending to his coconut plantation.

In turn, his Coconut Development Officer, Rolando Santos also received P15 thousand as an incentive for continuously inspiring Awa-aw to tend to his coconut farm and other crops despite the water stress felt by Salcedo town these days.

“We resorted to drip irrigation,” said Floretes.

Drip irrigation is a method of crop irrigation that uses plastic soft drink bottles placed upside down and attached to the plants to ensure that water continuously drips to the plant.

“I am blessed by this award, it inspires me to strive for more,” Awa-aw said shyly.

As to the prize money, Awa-aw said he has not yet decided on how to spend the money, but surely, some part will still be for his farm.

Awa-aw with his family tends to his coconut farm right after Typhoon Yolanda.

Many non-government organizations then offered support for farming and other agricultural products.

Awa-aw also supplied then a leading coffee processor for his coffee intercrop.

Last year, Awa-aw was the provincial nominee for the Gawad Saka Awards, but it is only this year that he bested two other nominees from the region. (NBQ/PIA-Eastern Samar)