By MELVIN AWID, Sarangani Vanilla farmer
As a sailor who discovered the beauty and bounty of farming, I'd like to thank the Office of Senator Imee R. Marcos for sponsoring the 2022 Young Farmers Challenge. This platform was instrumental in convincing me to leave my successful career at sea. I was successful enough to become the first Filipino officer of the Green Container Group managed by my previous company, breaking the barrier of the European Union officers fleet. And just because I am an officer who chose to leave that career does not mean that I was able to save millions; WALA AKONG PERA and I must start from scratch.
Although my business model, which aggressively aims to eliminate third parties by teaching and encouraging farmers to sell their produce directly to market and would encourage farmers to comply with agricultural certifying bodies, did not advance to the next level of national business pitching, I am still proud to have met people who believed how significant the direct linkage to market would be, and will lobby for the start of the vanilla infusion to their US-based company.
Thank you so much to the DA-RFO 12, DA-AMAD 12, ATI 12, Regional Focal and Secretariats for honing us to be better people and unleashing our in-depth farming fortitude. We prepared and invested so much effort, time, dedication, and heart into our respective projects and the competition that we have become not only a team but a family that we can be proud of. We will always stand tall and proud!
This magnificent video presentation would not have been possible without the dedication of the Sarangani Provincial Information Office , led by the ever-jovial Maam Joana; thank you very much. I owe Sir Joshua John Pantonial one for this flawless prod, as well as Sir Tres Besana and Sir Jake Narte for their sacrifices in making this video, rain or shine!
Daghan kaayong salamat to Sir Inocencio Engcong Morales , who treated us not as the Sarangani's representative, but as tropa we can truly rely on, accompanied by Maam Agnes Lozano Du , who treated us as her own children! Thank you, Sir Marvin John Regidor , for editing my video for the regional competition. Thank you very much, Municipality of Maitum.
Personally, I expected to win and make it to the top 12 national awardees based on my performance and the uniqueness of my project, but God had a different plan. I am excited to take this journey to the next level by propagating tissue cultured Vanilla Planofilia.
I will keep moving forward with sadness (because I joined not to participate but to win, crafting game plans like a tiger aiming at its prey) and a grateful heart. /MRA
Watch the video below to know more about the Vanilla Project.
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