SCIENCE CITY OF MUNOZ, Nueva Ecija – The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is encouraging farmer-cooperatives to make brown rice (unpolished rice) more accessible and affordable to the public.
The move is part of the continuing effort of the PhilRice to promote the consumption of brown rice as a healthy eating habit and at the same time, to help attain rice self sufficiency.
Myriam Layaoen, director of the PhilRice’s Be Riceponsible Campaign, said that they are talking to farmer groups, urging them to produce brown rice and sell it at reasonable price.
Brown rice production in the region, even in the country as a whole, is very minimal as it is more expensive than the white rice.
To make brown rice competitive, Layaoen said PhilRice is tapping local government units (LGUs) to issue ordinances and resolutions that will support the advocacy.
“We also partner with food establishments throughout the country to encourage their participation,” she said.
Amid the issue of unlimited rice serving in food establishments, PhilRice, through its Be Riceponsible Campaign, has affirmed that eating too much rice has ill effects to human health.
A study by the Harvard School of Public Health showed that excessive rice intake may adversely affect glucose metabolism and insulin production of the body, thus may result in diabetes.
According to a study, the carbohydrate content of one bowl of rice is equivalent to more than twice that of a can of soft drink and each plate of white rice eaten in a day raises the risk of diabetes by 11 percent among overall population.
“That is the main reason why we are promoting brown or unpolished rice as it has lower glycemic index, which means that it takes longer before it is converted to blood sugar. It also has higher satiety so you tend to eat less. Those are the reasons why it is better for diabetics compared with white rice,” Layaoen said.
Brown rice is the whole grain or unpolished version of white rice with its bran retained. It contains superior amount of protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can help control blood sugar level, lower bad cholesterol, prevent heart disease and the risk of developing cancer.
Meanwhile, PhilRice executive director, Dr. Sailila Abdula said that as a research and development institution, PhilRice will consistently explore ways to improve the rice ecosystem.
PhilRice’s new strategic plan strongly promotes competitiveness of farmers and the rice industry as a whole to become profitable, resilient, and sustainable.
“We are one in curtailing rice wastage because we believe that every grain our farmers produce means life to a Filipino, and could help in ensuring enough supply of rice for the country,” he added. (Marilyn Espiritu-Galang/PNA