From Catanduanes,
“The Land Of The Howling Wind,”
Cristina Torreda is PH’s
“Outstanding Woman Farmer 2021.”
This year, when the Department of Agriculture (DA) looked for “Katangi-Tanging Kababaihan sa Pagsasaka at Pangingisda sa Kanayunan” (“Outstanding Women In Farming & Fisheries In The Villages” – my free translation), they found the most outstanding in Catanduanes, known as “The Land Of The Howling Wind” – Ms Cristina.
The news by Lovella P Guarin is, “Catanduanes Strawberry Farmer Wins National Outstanding Rural Woman 2021 Award[1]” (08 Dec 2021, Bicol.da.gov.ph). Earlier, on Thursday, 02 Dec, at the Bureau of Soils & Water Management, adjudged the best among the best rural women engaged in farming and/or fisheries throughout the Philippines, Ms Cristina was rewarded with a Plaque of Recognition (see above) and P150,000 cash (about $30,000) from the DA. (How much is that? Much! If you are earning P10K a month, it will take you 15 months to earn that sum!)
Secretary of Agriculture William Dar himself “recognized Torreda’s resiliency amidst adversities, which sets her apart from the 11 other nominees from the other regions of the country.”
Ms Lovella says Ms Cristina is only 28 years, but she has been “able to establish a flourishing strawberry farm in San Andres, Catanduanes – a typhoon-prone island known as the ‘Land of the Howling Wind.’” Ms Lovella says more:
(Cristina) Torreda started her strawberry farm in San Andres, Catanduanes in 2018 using a mere P15,000 personal loan she spent on her original 130 mother plants. Today, her 1.5-hectare “Cristina’s Strawberry Farm” is now teeming with different varieties of strawberries, blueberry, (mulberry), raspberry, pomegranate, lettuce, dragon fruit and lowland vegetables. Hydroponics technology sustains her year-round production. Local and foreign tourists keep coming back to enjoy picking berries and making their own fresh salad. The strawberry farm also accommodates overnight stay for photoshoot and camping.
Ms Cristina is multi-business-minded!
For judging, the National Technical Committee was composed of heads/representatives of East West Seeds, Food & Agriculture Organization, LandBank, Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan (National Coalition of Women), Bureau of Agriculture & Fisheries Standards, and Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation. Judging was based on 3 criteria: 30% contribution to food security and agricultural development, 30% contribution to sustainable development, and 40% impact on rural development. High standards!
During the awarding, Undersecretary of High Value Crops & Rural Credit Evelyn Laviña, Chair of the Board of Judges, was joined by Commissioner Sandra Sanchez Montano, Chair of the PH Commission on Women, and Deputy Executive Director Annray V Rivera.
Ms Evelyn said:
The search is a fitting tribute to remind our womenfolk in agriculture and fishery how valuable and precious they are not only to the DA but also to the entire country.
Ms Lovella says:
The annual search aims to recognize the role of women in food production that contributes to food security, reduction of hunger and malnutrition and poverty as enshrined in RA 9710 (Magna Carta of Women).
Here’s to more productive power to the women of the Philippines!@517
[1]https://bicol.da.gov.ph/catanduanes-strawberry-farmer-wins-national-outstanding-rural-woman-2021-award/
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