PhilRice amps rice conservation drive, targets P10-B in savings

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has heightened its rice conservation drive to help save P10 billion in rice imports. PhilRice director Ronilo Beronio said in a statement over the weekend that "it's high time that rice must be fully utilized to meet the basic human needs and steer economic growth through increased productivity at less cost and with minimal damage to the environment." In a survey of Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology, it said each Filipino wastes three tablespoons of rice everyday, registering at least P23 million worth of daily rice wastage. PhilRice said those who pledged to conserve rice vowed to cook rice properly to avoid undercooked or burned rice, recycle leftover rice into other dishes, and order or cook rice that the pledgers and his family could consume. It said for the rice workers' part, they pledged to discourage the drying of palay on public roads and highways as this will lower the quality of the grains. Farmers also committed to encourage farmers to sow right amount of seeds and to ensure safe storage and sanitation of grains to avoid infestation, PhilRice added. The Philippines is seeking to drastically reduce or remove rice imports altogether by 2013 through the use of certified seeds, expansion of upland areas planted to rice as well as the promotion of indigenous crops. —JE/OMG, GMANews.TV