Calling all farmers, farmer entrepreneurs, farming institutions, local government units, cooperatives, agriculture NGO’s. TOFARM – the Search and Award for The Outstanding Farmers of the Philippines 2012 – is still accepting nominations to this year’s awards until October 30, 2012.
The Search and Award for outstanding farmers is an initiative of the Junior Chamber International Philippines (JCIP) since the early 70’s which it is now undertaking in partnership with Universal Harvester, Incorporated (UHI), a progressive Filipino company involved in the direct manufacturing, local distribution and exportation of a number of world-class quality fertilizers.
The Awards aims to recognize the Resiliency, Ingenuity, and Strength of hard working Filipino farmers and includes public and private sector stakeholders in agriculture, fisheries and livestocks. All Filipino farmers, fisherfolk, animal raisers, cooperatives, farm communities, organizations, education/academe, agricultural scientist, LGUs and public employees, and business entities in both rural and urban areas/centers may be nominated for the Awards.
“The program is being revived this year to promote farming in the youth sector across all classes. We want to increase the number of youth venturing into agriculture so we can invigorate investment and scientific advancement. The end goal is to achieve sustainable food supply for the country,” said Rommel Cunanan, TOFARM Project Chairman, JCI Philippines.
“Our farmers face great challenges but also have new opportunities. If they get the much-needed support, they can turn the agriculture sector around so it can provide a steady food supply for present and future generations. Young people and second generation farmers should pursue this noble livelihood. Agriculture is now an exciting field where they will welcome new technology, new products and business opportunities that will help them raise the volume of their crops or livestock while adhering to new environmental standards”, said Mrs. Milagros Ong-How, UHI Executive President.
The public is invited to nominate farmers, institutions, groups or LGUs to the TOFARM search. Nomination forms can be downloaded at the TOFARM website at www.tofarm.org. Once completed, the nomination form must be endorsed by the local JCI organization, the local agriculture officer, DepEd Teachers or the local parish priest. A scrapbook album or documentation must accompany the nomination and sent to the JCI Philippines Headquarters. Submissions may also be sent online.
The entries will be scrutinized and deliberated upon in November and December. The TOFARM Awards will be held in January 2013.
For more information, please go to www.tofarm.org. or call TOFARM Secretariat at 709-5011 to 5004, 709-5006 (Fax).
