ILOILO City – Only take as much rice as you can consume to reduce waste, the Department of Agriculture (DA) urged consumers in Western Visayas.
According to a study by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), each Filipino wastes approximately eight grams of rice daily.
This amount leads to a significant loss when considering the country’’s population of over 100 million, explained James Earl Ogatis, chief of the Agri-Fishery Information Section of DA Region 6.
The DA is at the forefront of promoting “RICEponsible” rice consumption as part of the National Rice Awareness Month.
Rice wastage encompasses crumbs that fall on the table, leftovers on plates, residuals in cooking pots and rice cookers, and rice that is fed to animals.
Ogatis emphasizes that reducing this waste is crucial for the region’s food security.
Proclamation No. 524, Series of 2004, designates November as National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) and underscores the importance of supporting local rice farmers.
Ogatis stressed the need for reducing the losses incurred by rice farmers from harvest to post-harvest processes and consumption. He also cited the advocacy for purchasing local rice, thus recognizing and honoring the contributions of Filipino rice farmers to the nation’s food supply.
In alignment with these goals, DA-6 has organized a series of activities to promote “RICEponsible” consumption widely. Among these activities are the following contests:
Be ‘RICEponsible’ Photography Contest
Participants must submit one photograph for each of the four key messages related to rice consumption. Entrants must post their photos on Facebook, each with a short title and description. Submissions should be in JPEG format and emailed to info@wv.da.gov.ph with the subject title “Be RICEponsible Photography Contest 2023” by November 20, 2023. Prizes include P10,000 for first place, P7,000 for second, P5,000 for third, and ten consolation prizes of P2,000 each.
Be ‘RICEponsible’ Selfie Challenge
Entrants are to post a selfie on Facebook depicting one of the four key messages, accompanied by at least a 50-word caption. Photos should be public, tagging the Department of Agriculture Western Visayas Facebook page, using hashtags: #BeRiceponsibleSelfieChallenge, #DAWesternVisayas, and #NRAM2023. The best selfies will win P5,000 for first place, P4,000 for second, P3,000 for third, and two consolation prizes of P1,500 each.
Be ‘RICEponsible’ Radio Jingle-Making Contest
Contestants are invited to create a two- to three-minute long radio jingle that captures the essence of the four key messages, accompanied by at least a 50-word caption. Winners will receive P10,000 for first place, P7,000 for second, P5,000 for third, and five consolation prizes of P2,500 each.
Ogatis announced that the NRAM celebration’s launching activity will take place on Thursday morning, Nov. 9, at the SM City Iloilo Activity Center.
The culminating activity and awarding of winners are scheduled for Nov. 29 at the DA-Western Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center in Barangay Hamungaya, Jaro district./PN
