This is the call of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Rice Research Institute in support to the Filipino rice farmers and their efforts in producing the most important staple crop.
In line with this, Secretary William Dar reiterated the need to mechanize, industrialize, and push for sustainable and market-driven Filipino rice farmers’ during the kick-off ceremony of the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) on November 4, 2019 at the National Science Complex of the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.
During the kick-off of NRAM, Dar urged the participants to support Filipino rice farmers and vowed to educate more consumers, stakeholders and policymakers to patronize and promote the consumption of locally grown rice.
“By encouraging everyone to buy our domestic rice, we can support the livelihood of our farmers as well as motivate them to continue producing quality rice for consumers,” Dar said.
He also warned traders who are taking advantage of the situation by keeping their imported rice in their warehouse and trading smuggled rice. “Mayroon din silang panahon at mahuhuli din sila,” Dar warned.
The agriculture chief stressed that the DA will ensure that Filipino rice farmers will be competitive, adding that the new paradigms currently being carried out under the “new thinking” for agriculture will not only focus on increasing the production but also strengthen industrialization anchored on a value-chain approach.
Meanwhile, 2019 Riceponsible Ambassadress and 2013 Ms. Universe Third Runner Up Ariella Arida expressed her support to the #BeRiceponsible campaign of the government.
“The wide use of social media is a great tool on spreading this awareness and through this I will be able to spread out reasons why we should shop local and continue to support our rice farmers,” Arida said.
Arida also encouraged private companies to support local farmers and urged the government to create policies that will provide incentives for rice farmers. She enjoined teachers to teach their students to help Filipino farmers stressing the importance of raising awareness on the challenges faced by Filipinos and how each and every Filipino can support them. The beauty queen also vowed to advocate for healthy eating, stressing that buying locally produced rice ensures fresh and nutritionally beneficial products.
“Buying directly to the farmers does not only build good relationship but also it means helping out the local community and its economy. The money that goes directly to community contributes in thriving businesses and create new jobs supporting further our local farmers and their families,” Arida concluded. ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)
