VSU awards outstanding farmers and fisherfolk for their impact on food and community

Get to know the exceptional farmers and fisherfolk of Eastern Visayas as Visayas State University accorded due recognition for their outstanding contributions in the region’s food security.

The Farmers’ and Fisherfolks Day celebration was a great venue to witness the joy from the awardees as they received the fruits of their labor, and the excitement from other farmers and fisherfolks to replicate the initiatives shared by the awardees.  

Meanwhile, FFD is a noble initiative of the university and was part of the VSU’s 101st Founding Anniversary celebration. It serves a platform for knowledge sharing and building community development.

In the search for this year’s regional Outstanding UGMAD awards, 6 winners are from the individual category and 2 winners for the group category.

Winners in each category received a monetary incentive for the enhancement of their respective farms and a plaque of recognition. 

Vegetable farming comes with a lot of challenges, but Mr. Jovan Nayre has overcome these with resilience and determination. 

Despite problems with poor soil, pests and diseases, and limited market access, he made a decision to make a bold move to change his faith in farming.

By using climate-smart practices, he increased his yield and profits. He also adopted sustainable methods like intercropping, crop rotation, green manuring, and organic fertilizers to improve soil health and reduce pesticide use. These efforts have led him to earn Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification. 

Jovan’s impact goes beyond his farm. Jovan’s farm is not just for production, but also a learning hub, offering workshops and seminars to students in eco-friendly farm practices. 

Mr. Miguel “Mike” Pedroso is a visionary farmer, sustainable agriculture advocate, and respected leader. 

He has pioneered environmentally-friendly technologies and climate-smart practices that promote soil health, protect biodiversity, and address climate change. 

Mike Pedroso’s farm is one of the few third-party certified organic jackfruit farms in the Philippines serving as a model for sustainable and self-sustaining agriculture. In 2017, his farm earned the NICERT Organic Certification and accreditation from the Organic Certification Center of the Philippines (OCCP). It is also TESDA-recognized farm school and an ATI learning site for practical agriculture and a center for jackfruit research. 

As chairperson of the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC), Mike championed jackfruit as a priority crop in Region 8. He also led the development of the Jackfruit Value Chain Analysis and Commodity Road Map.

Moreover, his commitment to innovation is evident in his research on DIBAC syndrome, where he developed an organic approach in managing Phytophthora disease.

Mike Pedroso continues to lead by example, shaping the future of farming for the benefit of his community and future generations.

As a rootcrop farmer in Brgy. Canfabi, Carigara, Mrs. Pacienca Sandagan is, above all, dedicated, hardworking, and selfless. 

Married for 48 years and a mother of eight children, Mrs. Sandagan works tirelessly to provide for her family. She has been planting root crops since the early 1990s, specifically balanghoy, palawan, carlang, and camote, which are the foods her family consumes daily.

When Super Typhoon Yolanda struck Eastern Visayas, Mrs. Sandagan was among those who shared the root crops she had planted with the community, helping them survive hunger after the typhoon caused severe damage and destruction to crops and properties in their area.

Despite her age, she continues to work on the farm and improve her skills by attending training sessions and seminars to further enhance her knowledge of rootcrop farming.

Mr. Jayson Daprosa is a shellfish farmer and resident of Brgy. Kawayan, Leyte, Leyte. He currently serves as the president of the Kawayan Farmers and Fisherfolks Association, which won the UGMAD Awards in 2022.

Transitioning from traditional bamboo-based methods to more sustainable approaches, he has actively learned and applied shellfish culture technologies acquired from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

He is also highly involved in community activities such as cleanup drives, mangrove planting, and serving as a keynote speaker at various events focused on marine resource conservation and the promotion of sustainable practices.

Mr. Daprosa is an expert in culturing green mussels (tahong). With seven years of experience in shellfish farming, he has become a reliable and active supplier of fresh green mussels and oysters in his town and nearby areas.

This year’s outstanding coconut farmer began his journey as an overseas mariner before deciding to venture into coconut farming.

Mr. Albert Pamanian inherited his parents’ one-hectare farm–now expanded to five hectares–which he cultivates with coconuts. He soon realized the importance of diversified farming, so he integrated high-value crops such as vegetables, along with livestock farming in the middle of his coconut farm.

Through his passion, integrity, and dedication to agriculture, he has earned the respect of his community and was elected president of their farmers’ association.

Committed to sustainable and organic farming, Mr. Romel Javier of Calbayog, Samar, applies a Participatory Guarantee System for his organic poultry. 

On his two-hectare farm, he formulates his own feed-mix using madre de agua, azola, and other organic feed sources– raising chickens with stronger immunity. He also practices strategic breeding techniques to prevent inbreeding and  maintain healthy stock. 

What started in a small backyard venture, eventually turned into a recognized business serving various customers in Eastern Visayas.  His dedication also allows him to provide lectures to other poultry farmers on organic farming techniques. 

Mr. Romel is not just a poultry farmer– he is a mentor, an advocate for organic agriculture, and a role model for young farmers.

Toctoc Baywalk Farmers and Fisherfolks Association is a community-based organization that promotes sustainable shellfish culture practices, improves the livelihood of its members, and protects the marine environment. 

The association is driven by empowered women who produce shellfish such as oyster, brown and green mussel. With their dedication, they have created job opportunities not only for members of the association, but also for local resellers.

A key innovation is their use of Bamboo Raft Method, a cage-type culture technique, that allows cultured oysters to grow over a  long period of time. This strategy enables high-volume production and can withstand strong typhoons, helping sustain their operations year-round.

The group actively supports the marine environment through participating in various activities like mangrove planting, clean-up drive, and education campaigns on the proper use of marine resources. 

The Pagburublig Han Parag-Uma Association (PPA) is a DOLE-registered association based in Mayorga, Leyte. It was established in 2021, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In just a few years, the association has become well-established and thriving, making significant contributions to their community.

Vegetable production has been their primary source of income, which they also use to support the needs of the association, such as their rent of the land, machinery, and farm development.

At present, the organization is a beneficiary of various programs and government agencies aimed at further improving their farm production. 

Our farmers are the foundation of our nation, making sure that we have food on our tables every day. They deserve to be honored and recognized, and the annual UGMAD Awards celebrate their hard work and dedication. 

See you next year for VSU’s 102nd Founding Anniversary celebration as we recognize the next batch of UGMAD awardees.

This article is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1: No Poverty; SDG 2: Zero Hunger; SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production; SDG 14: Life below water; SDG 15: Life on Land; SDG 17: Partnership for Goals.

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