Over 200 rice stakeholders from across the country gathered in Iloilo City for the 2024 National Rice Industry Stakeholders Conference, organized by the Department of Agriculture-National Rice Program (DA-NRP) and the DA-Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) on November 25–27, 2024.
With the theme, “Converge, Cooperate, and Coordinate: Para sa Masaganang Bagong Pilipnas,” the conference aims to combine the stakeholders’ strengths, address challenges, and unify strategies for a more competitive local rice industry.
“Strengthening the rice industry is not merely a matter of boosting production. It is a strategic imperative for sustaining the nation’s well-being and economic resilience,” DA Rice Industry Development Undersecretary Christopher Morales said.
During the conference, participants discussed the status of the rice industry, identified the sector challenges and gaps, tackled the Rice Industry Development Roadmap, and collaborated on innovative solutions and projects.
“In behalf of the RiceBoard Family, kami ay nagpapasalamat sa oportunidad na ito na makipag-ugnayan sa inyong lahat, maki-coordinate, makipagtalastasan, foster our collaboration, coordination, and of course importante iyong actions natin going forward, sama-sama tayo,” RiceBoard President Recher Ondap said.
Expected outputs from the conference include a refined list of top priority strategies, actionable policy recommendations, and strengthened stakeholder engagements, partnerships, and relationships.
“Our combined efforts is the key to the continued success of the rice industry. Let us continue focusing on the 3Cs: Converge, Cooperate, and Coordinate,” Undersecretary Morales emphasized.
He also highlighted the DA’s commitment to driving transformative programs, embracing modern technologies, and fostering inclusive growth to build a rice industry that sustains and empowers communities.
In line with the celebration of the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM), Morales reminded everyone of the shared responsibility to be “Riceponsible,” to consume rice wisely, explore other healthy alternatives, minimize food wastage, and support the local rice industry.
He reported that such efforts contributed to a 33 percent reduction in rice wastage from nine grams per day to six grams per day, saving 85,000 metric tons of rice valued at almost P3.6 billion at P43 per kilogram.
The National Rice Industry Stakeholders Conference was attended by rice farmer-leaders, industry leaders, policymakers, officials, and members of farmers’ cooperatives and associations, agricultural and fishery councils, local government units, and DA operating units. Representatives of the PCAF National Sectoral Committee on Rice and Other Food Staples, the RiceBoard, Rice Watch Action Network, Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM), Land Bank of the Philippines, and the Development Bank of the Philippines also joined the event. ### (text by Gumamela Bejarin-Rosas, DA-AFID/photo by Sheila Toreno, RAFIS 6)
