DA to provide update on rice problem

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) will provide today an update on current rice concerns during a roundtable discussion on food security hosted by the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna (UPLB).

Dr. Frisco Malabanan, national coordinator of the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) Rice Program, will provide participants with a situationer on the roots of the country’s current rice woes as well as ongoing initiatives being implemented by the government to guarantee stable supply and prices of the grain especially for low-income consumers.

The whole-day roundtable discussion aims to discuss strategies and policies to increase rice production in the country.

The rice situation will be analyzed from various viewpoints: production technology, production efficiency, agricultural machinery, natural resources and technology indicators and markets.

UPLB Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco said the Philippines, as a major rice consumer and importer, needs to revisit its food security policy amid global supply uncertainties triggered by rising prices of other grains, climate changes, and the increasing use of food crops for biofuel feedstock.

The discussion will focus on the following topics: increasing areas for palay production; irrigation development and management; increasing palay yields per hectare; maximizing rice production under climate variability; minimizing post-harvest losses, improving production efficiency through extension; trade and market issues; and consumption issues.

Besides Malabanan, the other invited experts to the forum include Dr. Emil Javier of the National Academy of Science and Technology; Dr. Florentino Monsalud of the UPLB-College of Agriculture (CA): Dean Victor Ella of the College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology; Dr. Jose Hernandez of the UPLB-CA; Dr. Rogelio Concepcion of the School of Environmental Science and Management; Dr. Rowena DT Baconguis of the College of Public Affairs (CPAf); Dr. Flordeliza Lantican of the College of Economics and Management (CEM); Dr. Merlyne Paunlagui of CPAf; Professor Angelina Bustos of the College of Human Ecology; and Dr. Candida Adalla, CA dean. CPAf Dean Agnes Rola will discuss rice production and consumption trends.