By Franklin P. Gumapon
For the second time Velly Marcial Naciongayo, 38, of
Sebucao, Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur emerged as one of the winners of the 2014
Search for The Outstanding Farmers of the Philippinesor TOFARM Awards sponsored
by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines and the Universal
Harvester, Inc.
Velly, as fondly called by relatives and friends, is a cogent
proof that outstanding people do not only come from the ranks of prominent
personalities but from ordinary folks as well.
He received his award on Jan. 30, 2015 at Makati Shangri La,
Makati City after beating other nominees in the “ best bid book” category for
the 2014 TOFARM awards.
To get firsthand information from Velly about his new award,
this writer visited him at his residence with Alma Tingcang, Gideon Corgue,
Victoriano Villacruz and Juan Pestañas in company. The group arrived at Velly’s
house at around 9:30 a.m.
As we alighted the vehicle, Velly’s wife, Ardilyn - in wet
clothes as she just started to bathe - met us and had us sit ona wooden bench
near a pond teeming with Koi fish. A few seconds later,Velly joined us and
obliged every question with direct and clear answers.
Best Bid Book
Velly’s new“outstanding farmer award” is a sequel to a
similar citation he received in 2013 from the JCI Philippines and the Universal
Harvester under the fisher folk category for promoting inland fresh water fish
farming.
In an article written by Alma Tingcang about his 2013 TOFARM
award, Velly was recognized for raising fresh water and ornamental fish
particularly the “Koi fish” from which he is earning for a living.
The board of judges also took note of his efforts at
organizing the Backyard Aquatic Gardeners Association (BAGA), which has more
than 20 members now, as an indicator that Velly is creating a positive change
in the community.
In 2014 his write up about aquatic farming has earned him
the outstanding farmer award under the “Best Bid Book” category. The board of
judges found this young farmer unselfish in sharing his practical knowledge and
skills in raising fresh water and ornamental fish.
Biggest sale
“Raising Koi fish is fun because you will enjoy their
colorful features and they command a better price,” said Velly.
Velly is selling a Koi fingerling at P10 each and the big
one at P1,000 each. But the “breeder” is sold at P30-50 thousand each. And the
biggest sale he got in one deal was P120 thousand.
Money in farming
Right after he finished his Bachelor of Science in Marine
Transportation, he went to Manila to find employment in shipping companies, but
to no avail. He went home empty-handed.
Although Velly still entertains the idea of working for any
shipping company, he busies himself with his aquatic farming, which started out
as his hobby in high school that became a thriving industry. He really believes
that there is money in farming.
LGU support
The municipal government of Dumalinao has always been
extending its support to Velly. In fact, Municipal Agriculturist Ponciano Edano
always visits his fishponds and gives him pieces of advice ranging from fish
breeding, feeding to harvesting and marketing.
To make every farmer in this town productive, Mayor Ace William
E. Cerilles is putting premium on the development of agriculture in the area.
Achievements of any farmer are duly recognized by the municipal leadership in
order to encourage others to follow suit.
