BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Numerous awards continue to pour in for Noralyn Busa, evidence of her passion, dedication and commitment in her work.
But for the 57-year-old of Purok 1, Bintawan Road, barangay Lactawan in Solano town, helping farmers to be productive without putting public health and the environment at risk is her utmost concern.
An Agricultural Engineer of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Busa’s services and assistance to farmers and agricultural organizations also gave these recipients various national and regional awards and recognitions.
“While we provide agricultural services to improve the income of farmers, we should also ensure that the food we produce will contribute to the overall health of our consumers, free of contamination and safe to the environment. This is my inspiration to serve,” she said.
Busa said she has been advocating organic agriculture program of the government for farmers in Nueva Vizcaya through the promotion on the use of indigenous materials as alternative for chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
For her passion to push organic agriculture, she was awarded as outstanding and dedicated and hardworking implementer of the Postharvest Development Program in support to the Rice and Corn Industry and the Organic Agriculture, with emphasis on postharvest losses, reduction and prevention of aflatoxin towards soil and water conservation, increase in income of farmers, environmental protection and sustainable agriculture development.
These are given by the Department of Agriculture, such as the Outstanding Postharvest Specialist Network from 2003 to 2006 by the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension, Outstanding Agricultural Extension Worker for National Rice Achievers Award in 2012, Outstanding AEW for the National Quality Corn Achievers Award in 2014;
Outstanding Provincial Organic Agriculture Focal Person for National Organic Agriculture Achievers Award – regional level in 2014, Outstanding AEW for National Quality Corn Achievers Award in 2015, Outstanding Provincial Organic Agriculture Focal Person for NOAAA regional level in 2015;
Outstanding Agricultural Engineer for Postharvest Technology and Rural Electrification in April 16, 2016 by the Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers, and Outstanding AEW Hall of Fame Awardee for the National Quality Corn Achievers’ Award in 2016.
Busa also shared her expertise to AEWs, ordinary farmers, organizations and local government units in the 15 towns of Nueva Vizcaya, giving them similar recognitions and awards from the DA.
Among these are the Wacal Communal Irrigation System as Outstanding Flat Bed Dryer Recipient in 2010, Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya as Outstanding Agricultural Tramline Project in 2013, PLGU Nueva Vizcaya as NOAAA regional awardee for LGU category in 2014 and 2015, respectively, and finalist to the national level, Solano town as Outstanding LGU.
Norberto Butac of Solano town was also recognized as Outstanding AEW, Daisy Barcelona of Kayapa town as Outstanding Organic Agriculture Farmer, Vizcaya Fresh! Organic Advocate, Inc. as Outstanding Organic Agriculture Small Farmer Category, PLGU Nueva Vizcaya as Outstanding Provincial LGU, Victoria Damian of Solano town as Outstanding AEW in 2015, Nueva Vizcaya as Outstanding PLGU, and Joselito Cabanayan as Outstanding Corn Farmer National Level.
Busa is proud that while other provinces with vast agricultural lands boost their rice and corn production in terms of quantity, Nueva Vizcaya’s smaller agricultural areas can in fact yield quality produce.
She is now being challenged by the fact that farmers’ contribution to the Solid Waste Management Program is imperative.
In small way, Busa said the prevention of burning of rice stalks and using them as organic fertilizers can help a lot in reducing the impact of climate change.
“We are raising and advocating these concerns to our programs for the farmers, hoping that they will adopt these good and environmentally-friendly practices. It’s a lengthy battle but we should start change within our farmers,” Busa said.
She was recently recognized as one of the Outstanding Women in Cagayan Valley during the ‘Iddu’ (Loved One) Awards by the Philippine Information Agency last month.