RICE AWARENESS. Brown rice bags are on display at the National Rice Awareness Month exhibit at SM City in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan on Friday (Nov. 10, 2023). The celebration aims to heighten the public’s knowledge on eradicating poverty and malnutrition through sustained rice production. (PNA photo by Villamor Visaya Jr.)
TUGUEGARAO CITY – As the country strives to improve food productivity, Filipinos should be responsible enough to avoid wastage.
This was amplified during National Rice Awareness Month activities that run from Nov. 9 to 11 at a mall here.
Dr. Marvin Luis, Department of Agriculture - Region 2 rice program coordinator, said on Friday that the total food wastage on data can feed at least 2.5 million Filipinos in a year.
Luis said the public needs to become responsible rice consumers.
“In 2008, each Filipino wasted an average of two tablespoons of cooked rice or nine grams of uncooked rice every day,” he said in an interview during the activity.
Going by the data, more than 12 percent of imported rice worth PHP7.27 billion in the same year went to waste, he said.
Dr. Rose Mary Aquino, DA - Region 2 executive director, said rice awareness will be enhanced by having “healthy and proper eating of rice and eating brown and pigmented rice.”
"BeRICEponsible by not wasting rice, eating brown rice, mixing rice with other healthy foods, supporting local rice products and helping local farmers in the country," she added,
Researchers said that brown rice is rich in nutrients, high in fiber, regulates blood sugar, is heart healthy and helps maintain a healthy weight.
Government and private sector representatives in the region also signed a pledge of commitment for advocacy for awareness on responsible rice consumption.
Dr. Roberto Busania, DA - Region 2 technical director for operations and extension, said local rice farmers should continue planting and be supported by all sectors “to ensure sustainability of rice.” (PNA)
