𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 ‘𝗕𝗲 𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆’

Consumption of healthier and nutritious forms of rice is being pushed for by the Department of Agriculture (DA) as the country celebrates National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM).

NRAM is being celebrated every November per Presidential Proclamation No. 524 series of 2004 to raise awareness on responsible rice consumption as necessary in solving malnutrition and poverty and promoting rice self-sufficiency.

“We have been faced by the COVID-19 pandemic for almost two years, and it is just appropriate and relevant to have the Be RICEponsibly Healthy theme as we observe the NRAM this 2021,” said DA Western Visayas Regional Executive Director Remelyn R. Recoter.

Rice, as the primary food staple of the country, is among the three crops that obtained the highest of production in 2020, she added.

“I would like to thank our rice farmers for their labor in production even we are in the pandemic. Western Visayas has a 4.7 percent growth rate in terms of production value in 2020, which is the highest among the regions. And the crop sector constitutes mainly rice, sugarcane and watermelon reached 10.2 percent growth last year,” Recoter explained.

She likewise urged the public to consume healthier rice options, including brown rice or locally known as ‘pinawa’ and other pigmented rice. Eating brown rice regularly can help prevent health problems like cancer and cardiovascular diseases. It also benefits local rice farmers since they can get a higher milling recovery rate in producing brown rice than white rice by 10 percent.

Considering the Philippines has the lowest level of pesticide use, the public should opt to buy locally grown rice for it is safe and healthier to consume. Patronizing local rice is tantamount to supporting the local rice growers, according to DA. The department likewise advocates the non-wastage of rice to attain rice security.

DA Western Visayas has conducted a feeding activity in two COVID-19 vaccination sites in Iloilo City –Ateneo De Iloilo and SM City Iloilo on November 23 that benefitted 500 frontliners, youths and their guardians.

Also, part of the NRAM activities in the region is the Rice Photography and Short Video Making Contests, in which the participants could get the opportunity to win up to P10,000.00 cash, rice, and various advocacy freebies. Meanwhile, by simply posting their ‘riceponsibly healthy’ meal on Facebook, 10 netizens in Region 6 who posted photos with the highest number of FB reactions will be given 50 kilograms of rice each.

Winners of the said contests will be awarded on November 29 in the NRAM culmination in the region.

“We are holding these activities as our means to show respect and support to our local rice farmers who are among our economic frontliners this time of the global pandemic. My salute to all Region 6 farmers who contributed to the 2.23 million metric tons of palay production in 2020,” Recoter said.

The all-time high in palay production last year, according to her, can be attributed to the different interventions availed by farmers from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), such as the certified seeds, farm machinery, and postharvest equipment, training, and credit facilities.

“Apart from RCEF, our rice farmers also received hybrid seeds and fertilizers from the National Rice Program and the Bayanihan 1 and 2 funds,” she added.

In the region, about 250,000 rice farmers with less than two hectares of landholding will be receiving P5,000 cash this December under the RCEF-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance. ### Texts by SMHToreno/DA-RAFIS 6 & Photos by: AGRPadilla