Regional Executive Director Cameron Odsey of the Cordillera Regional Field Office of the Department of Agriculture (DA-RFO-CAR) reports that the agency continues to encourage rice farmers in the region to produce the different varieties of heirloom rice found in the region.
In the culminating activity of the National Rice Awareness Month and Organic Agriculture Program at the Old Conference Hall of DA-RFO CAR, the director pointed out the importance of continuously producing heirloom rice that has been passed through generations here in the region as a manifestation of the identity of being a Cordilleran.
“Heirloom rice is very distinct because like for us, it is only us here in the Cordillera who produce these varieties of rice, and based on research, these varieties of rice that we produce are relatives of rice produced in Taiwan which is why we should continue to produce heirloom rice,” Odsey said.
In the region, there are currently 800 varieties of heirloom rice that have been studied which may reach around 1,000 varieties and is considered by the Odsey as a symbolism of our identity as Cordilleran, aside from a clear indication that watersheds, which are the source of irrigation for the production of heirloom rice, should be continuously preserved.
The health benefits of these traditional rice to the consuming public based on what scientists found out is that heirloom rice grown in the Cordillera have antioxidants and low glycemic index cholesterol content as compared to the commercial rice being sold in the market.
“The primary area that the DA is looking at in terms of the production of heirloom rice is the increase of its production primarily benefiting the community. Different technical support and research are being provided by the department, such as the Farmer Fields School training on how to help eliminate pests, and on what measures can be done to increase production,” the Director added.
The heirloom rice cooperatives in the region are the Benguet Heirloom Rice Farmers Agriculture Cooperatives, Ifugao Heirloom Rice Producers Cooperative, Kalinga Rice Terraces Farmers Agriculture Cooperative, and the Mountain Province Heirloom Rice Farmers Agriculture Cooperative which were awarded with certificates of recognition, aside from the awarding of Regional Outstanding Rural Women for 2022, and the awarding of the NRAM Challenge Winners on BeRiceponsible Plate Challenge, BeRiceponsible TikTok Challenge, and the Inter-Division Rice-based and Fresh Salad Competition.
