Written by the Web Team
As part of the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) celebration, Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco Jr, executive director of PhilRice and Dante S. de Lima, national rice program coordinator, will lead the ceremonial harvesting in the rice garden in Luneta, Nov. 18.
Rufino Z. Tamayao, event organizer, said rice officials and heads of partner agencies will harvest Sinampaguita, a traditional rice variety; NSIC 160, inbred; and Mestizo 20, hybrid.
Launched in 2001, the rice garden was established for the urban dwellers and the youth to know more the production stages of rice and its importance to the Philippine culture and heritage.
To be participated by about 500 participants, mostly elementary students, teachers, and members of the press, the activity will also highlight a cooking demo featuring recipes equally nutritious with rice. The Old Spaghetti House will handle the cooking show.
With the theme, Eat your Rice Right, this year’s National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) is being implemented to emphasize the value of eating just the right amount of rice.
“Filipinos depend mostly on rice for energy and eat rice more than what is recommended,” PhilRice rice chemist Joy Bartolome A. Duldulao said.
For a clearer picture of Filipinos’ diet, Duldulao said half of the typical Filipino plate contains rice despite recommendations to eat more fruits and vegetables.
Aside from promoting the nutritional aspect of eating the right amount of rice, NRAM, which is integrated in PhilRice`s Save Rice, Save Lives Movement also reiterates its advocacy on rice conservation.
A 2008 study by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute found that Filipinos, on the average, waste 2 tbsp of rice daily. PhilRice economists said the wastage could feed close to 3 million people and help the country save PhP 5.3 billion in rice import.
Other NRAM activities include students’ forum, book launching of Bagong Bayani (Rice Manga), and Run for Rice.
