In support of the Department of Agriculture’s Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP)’s goal to foster rice sufficiency and nutrition security, the Malusog Rice Program is collaborating with various government entities and farmer cooperatives to plan the production and marketing of Malusog Rice in the Philippines.
In the province of Quirino, a total of 40 hectares of clustered farms will be planted with Malusog Rice this coming 2024 dry cropping season.
“The Department of Education (DepEd) focuses on feeding programs for the kids. This is where we can include Malusog Rice. We will propose and recommend this to our leaders,” said Dr. Elenita B. Ugot, chief education supervisor of the Schools Division Office (SDO) Quirino.
“We will join PhilRice in advocating Malusog Rice, not only to our kids or students but also to parents, and non-teaching and teaching personnel of the SDO Quirino,” she added.
Other provinces, such as Agusan del Sur, Albay, Leyte, Antique, Iloilo, and other provinces have likewise committed to the integration of Malusog Rice in MRIDP. They will also be partnering with farmer cooperators and associations (FCA) to facilitate the planting of Malusog Rice, which will be marketed through cooperators or traders.
Lea Concepcion B. Flores, DA-PhilRice Isabela
