El Niño, Walang Ulan? Floating Rice Gardens In Lakes, Marshes Eyed

Early this morning, I had a virtual meeting with Dr. Sailila Abdula, former Executive Director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute and a rice scientist, to discuss an idea which came to my mind as I searched for other options in ensuring rice supply for poor farming families in the face of El Niño and the rice export ban enforced by India.
“Marami tayong kawayan, Sai, puede ba tayong gumawa ng mga Floating Rice Gardens sa Liguasan Marsh at iba pang mga lakes?,” I asked him during our FB messenger conversation.
His answer jolted me.
“Meron na tayo ginawang mga trials nyan Sir and very successful in terms of rice production. We have already identified the rice varieties which could be used in the program,” Dr. Abdula said.
He, however, said that the initial expense would be a bit high as the frames which would carry 6-inch thick soil would have to be established.
Dr. Abdula said Bamboo Poles would be ideal, including styrofoam which would easily float in placid waters of the marsh or even lakes.
He also said that the varieties selected must not be tall to prevent lodging.
Indeed, when I checked the Internet, I saw pictures of Floating Rice Gardens in Sri Lanka and Cambodia, a farming system which had long been practiced by farmers in the waterlogged areas of those countries.
In fact, in Sri Lanka they have already established floating rice farms in saline waters.
These are innovations which had been established by rice scientists like Dr. Sai Abdula but which had largely been ignored or overlooked in the frenzy for an easy way to supply rice through importation.
There should be an inventory of watered marshlands and placid lakes all over the country where this program could be started on a piloting basis.
This may not be very profitable for farmers but this farming practice will ensure that they will not have to rely on imported rice for their survival.
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