Pinoy named best farm manager in New Zealand

A Filipino farm manager working in the region of Otago in New Zealand was honored this month for having "contributed immensely" in ensuring high production, staff solidarity, and farm efficiency. According to a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) statement on Monday, Neil Molina was named Otago's Best Farm Manager of the Year during the Dairy Industry Awards in Balchutha on April 6. “I am blessed to have very good and wonderful farm owners, and dedicated and motivated farm workers, and together we strive to make our farm as highly productive and efficient as possible. This award belongs to them,” Molina said in the statement. According to the site of New Zealand government agency Careers New Zealand, farm managers, like farmers, "are responsible for the planning, management and day-to-day running of farms." However, while farmers own the land they farm, farm managers handle these for the owners.   "As a farm manager, Neil contributed immensely to maximizing operations for high production, ensuring good staff support and teamwork and upgrading farm efficiency," the DFA said.   "He proudly pointed out that the farm he is managing may not have the latest technology but the skills, sacrificial service and positive work attitude of the farm workers and staff and the full support of their employers are the keys to the continuing success and viability of their farm in Ranfurly," it continued.   According to the DFA, Molina's honor is part of New Zealand's annual search for farmers at various levels of the dairy industry in that country who are qualified for the Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year. Aside from being Otago's Best Farm Manager of the Year, Molina was also conferred the AgITO Human Resources Management Award.   Molina works for a couple named Greg and Kelly Kirkwood whose farm employs 13 Filipinos out of 15 dairy workers, all of whom take care of an estimated 2,300 heads of cattle.   The DFA said Molina looks forward to helping the Philippines' dairy industry.   Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Virginia Benavidez said Molina is "a shining example of Filipino world-class talent" as well as an inspiration to Pinoys in New Zealand's dairy sector.   She said these Pinoys are known for their "positive work ethics, sacrificial service, exemplary performance and commendable skills," the statement said. “Whenever I visited dairy farms in the North and South Islands, the unanimous and heartwarming feedback gathered from farm owners, managers and officers of farmers’ organizations is that the Filipinos have changed the dynamics of the farms," Benavidez said.   "Together with the other Filipinos in the dairy sector whose works and talents have been recognized in New Zealand, you continue to do our country and people proud,” she continued. - Gian C. Geronimo, VVP, GMA News