LOS BAÑOS, Laguna (PIA) – Taking responsibility in eating and consuming rice is crucial in achieving food security, the Municipal Agriculture Office of Los Baños said during the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) celebration this month.
Municipal agriculturist Cheryll Laviña-Gonzales emphasized the importance of not wasting rice as embodied in this year’s celebration that carries the theme, “Be RICEponsible” to heighten public awareness on efforts to attain rice self-sufficiency and address malnutrition and poverty.
“The goal of the celebration is to raise awareness among our local residents about responsible rice consumption and avoid wastage even as we are not currently experiencing rice shortage,” she said.
In a Malacañang briefing on November 9, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) said around two tablespoon of rice is wasted by every person each day, costing around P7 million every year.
The country celebrates National Rice Awareness Month every November under Proclamation 524 issued on January 5, 2004.
Los Baños, known as the Special Science and Nature City of the Philippines, is committed to institutionalizing the celebration through the Kautusang Pambayan Bilang 2021-2160.
Rice farmers in Los Baños showcased their products during the National Rice Awareness Month last November 6, 2023. (Charmaine Odong/PIA4A)
In line with the celebration, the town provided assistance to 130 registered farmers under the Department of Agriculture’s Registry System for the Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA). The farmers receive free seedlings, fertilizer, and machinery to support their livelihood.
The local government of Los Baños also held various programs and contests, including a poster making contest, agri trivia shows, quiz contest, parol making, and an exhibit of government agencies such as the Agricultural Systems Institute-College of Agriculture and Food Science (ASI-CAFS) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).
One of the event highlights is the parol making contest where participants from different barangays showcase giant Christmas lanterns adorned with ‘palay’ (unhusked rice).
In addition to these efforts, Los Baños Mayor Anthony Genuino has implemented scholarship programs for children of farmers, aiming to encourage them to pursue agriculture-related courses in college.
This initiative, called the Farmer Field School (FFS) under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), is done in collaboration with the local government. The goal is to change the youth’s perception of farming as a viable and noble career path. At least 22 scholars have completed and graduated from the town’s agriculture program.
To be eligible for the scholarship program, students must demonstrate an interest in agriculture and present initiatives to further develop the livelihood of their parents.
“With the Mayor’s initiative of providing scholarships to our young farmers, we encourage the youth to engage in agriculture, particularly in rice farming,” added Gonzales. (CO/PIA4A)
