By Manny Piñol
Leaders of the six provinces of the Cordillera Autonomous Region, a place noted for its vicious and often bloody tribal feuds, gathered in Baguio City’s Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) facility Wednesday night to promote what all of them are so highly proud of – the centuries-old Heirloom Rice which the tribes grow in the world famous rice terraces.
The Governors of the six provinces, except for Apayao’s Elias Bulut Jr. who waited for me in Luna, Apayao which I visited today, and three of the five Congressmen (the two others sent representatives) and several Mayors jointly launched the #Brown4GoodLife campaign which hopes to promote the organic rice grown in the rice terraces in the region.
Benguet Gov. Cresencio Pacalso, Abra Gov. Maria Jocelyn Bernos, Kalinga Gov. Jocel Baac, Mt. Province Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr., Ifugao Gov. Pedro Mayam-o, Cong. Maximo Dalog of Mt. Province, Cong. Sonny Mangaoang, Cong. Eleanor Bulut-Begtang and Cong. Joseph Sto. Nino Bernos, including five mayors attended the event.
The Heirloom Rice, the generic name for the indigenous rice varieties grown in the rice terraces for centuries now, is a source of pride for the Cordillerans.
Grown in the same way their ancestors did hundreds of years ago, the different rice varieties come in light brown, brown and black colours and are organically grown.
While the average yield per hectare is only about 2.5-metric tons per year, the Heirloom Rice, has been classified as High Value Crop and commands premium price among organic food lovers.
A kilo of the Heirloom Rice is sold for P120.
The potential of the Heirloom Rice in the foreign market, however, is tremendous especially among those who love organic food.
In fact, it is now marketed in the United States and Cordillera’s leaders believe that by supporting the promotions of the Heirloom Rice, new markets in Europe and Japan could be opened.
The Dept. of Agriculture is supporting the #Brown4GoodLife program and I have personally pledged that I will lead the marketing campaign for this variety of rice which is not only healthy but which also carries with it a lot of lore and history.
In my future foreign travels as Secretary of Agriculture, I will be bringing with me promotional samples and materials of the Heirloom Rice.
Locally, the DA will also launch a nation-wide media campaign to promote the health benefits derived from eating organically grown rice, especially the Heirloom Rice.
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