The best way to cut rice imports is not to ask Filipinos to eat less rice but to give more support to rice farmers to improve yield, AGRI Party-list said Sunday.
“The government is forced to import rice to keep up with the demand because we have not been giving adequate support for our rice farmers. ‘Yan ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit kulang ang ating domestic rice supply. Hindi sapat ang ani ng ating magsasaka para i-cover ang ating consumption,” AGRI Party-list first nominee and former judge Frank Lobrigo said.
“We can train our farmers to cultivate high-value crops that are good alternatives for rice, like adlai.”
Lobrigo was reacting to a suggestion that Filipinos should eat more vegatables to reduce rice consumption.
“Tama naman na dapat kumain tayo ng masusustansiyang gulay. Pero mahirap naman yata na ipilit mo na kumain na parang mga Koreano at Hapon ang mga Pilipino,” he said.
“If the intention is to eat healthier then perhaps shifting carbohydrate sources with a low glycemic index would be better. We can train our farmers to cultivate high-value crops that are good alternatives for rice, like adlai,” he added.
Lobrigo stressed that the produce of Filipino farmers should also be prioritized in the market.
Rice remains the staple food in the country, with 93% of households in the country eating it on a regular basis, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Meanwhile, the former judge said he agreed that farmers should be supported by the state to be able to adopt and adapt to new technologies.
“Hindi lang kasi high-tech equipment ang kakailanganin pero pati syempre ‘yong skills training,” he said.
