To increase local rice production and to make our farmers competitive for the ASEAN market, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala told researchers, scientists and other personnel of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) to continue its efforts to reach the P9 per kilogram production cost target before 2017.
Speaking at the 30th anniversary celebration of PhilRice at the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija, on November 6, 2015, Alcala lauded PhilRice’s ongoing “Palayabangan” project, which aims to level up the rice production standard to 10 tons/ha yield (or 200 cavans) at a minimum P5 input cost per kilogram of palay.
“Kung mapapanatili natin ang halaga ng produksyon ng palay P5 kada kilo, magiging mas mababa pa ito sa production cost ng Vietnam na nasa P6.53 bawat kilo. Naniniwala ako na kung mailalagay natin sa P9 kada kilo bago mag-2017 ay magiging competitive tayo,” Alcala said.
Alcala acknowledged PhilRice’s contribution in reaching the 18.44 million metrics tons in 2013, the highest palay production ever recorded.
“Kaakibat ng mataas na produksyon, tinanghal po tayo na world’s fastest growing rice producer noong isang taon,” he said.
During the event, Alcala urged the public’s support for the “BROWN4Good” project that aims to encourage public to consume brown rice to increase its production rate.
“Kamakailan lang, inilunsad natin ang BROWN4Good na naglalayong mai-ipromote ang pagkain ng brown rice para sa kalusugan, gayundin para mapataas ang produksyon dahil sa mas mataas nitong milling recovery. Kumpara sa well-polished rice ay nasa 10% ang differential rate nito,” Alcala said.
He also noted that with his administration, he was able to regain the trust of the farmers and to increase the support budget for PhilRice.
With thirty years of dedication on rice research and development, PhilRice have produced 70 rice varieties, developed 24 rice machines, 23 patents among other innumerable achievements in rice R&D. # Source - (Kristel Merle, AFID)/www.da.gov.ph
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