Can the Philippines be self-sufficient in rice?

LOS BAñOS, Laguna -- In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) recently hosted a forum entitled  "Can the Philippines become rice sufficient?"

Experts from IRRI and the Philippine Rice Research Institute discussed the practical limitations, challenges, opportunities as well as measures that can be taken to achieve rice sufficiency.

According to Julian Lapitan, senior manager of the National Programs Relations of IRRI, Dr. Sergio Francisco, chief science research specialist and program leader for impact and policy research of PhilRice and Dr. Achim Dobermann, deputy director general for research of IRRI, by adopting new rice technologies and methods to address the limitations and challenges facing rice production in the country as well as having a strong political to push for programs and laws, only then we can achieve rice sufficiency.