MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 16, 2012) – While the Philippines used to be Asia’s rice bowl, the country has become one of the biggest importer of rice in 2010, according to Oxfam International, and one solution it said that may help the Philippines become rice self-sufficient is if Filipinos switch their eating habits from white rice to organic brown rice.
“Brown Rice can become the hero to our rice problem, but only if we help it become one. This is because Brown Rice has less wastage in the milling process, which means there will be an increased production. At the same time, we help our local farmers,” Noel Cabangon, Brown Rice advocate and Dakila Vice President, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
While some people have switched to brown rice, others believe it is too expensive. The price of brown rice ranges from P45 per kilo in the provinces to P90 per kilo in the city.
However, a study published by the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rice Research Institute (Rice Science for Decision Makers Vol. 2 No. 3) showed that that If all Filipinos would eat brown rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner just once a month, the country’s rice importation would shrink by an average of 50,000 metric tons per year, valued at US$20.32 million (or P812.81 million pesos) savings yearly.
“Given the fact that a large number of families in the country are below the poverty line, the consumption of brown rice can ensure that every member of the family is provided with the necessary nutrients they need even though their diet is largely dependent on rice,” Cabangon said.
According to a research conducted by Oxfam, the milling recovery of brown rice is 10% higher, which can lead to additional sacks of rice that can be leveled with the amount of rice we import. This means that the country would have the capability of producing enough amounts of rice that would prevent us from importing from others.
Under Oxfam International’s Grow campaign, and in partnership with the artist collective, Dakila, the Brown Rice campaign aims to revive brown or “unpolished” rice back to the regular diet of the Filipino and promote sustainable agriculture and climate mitigation.
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