Edgardo "Sonny" Angara Urges PhilRice To Develop Drought-Resistance Rice Varieties

METRO MANILA, Philippines - April 4, 2013 - PRLog -- Developing such rice strains is a "very realistic target," Angara said, as he expressed confidence that the country's rice scientists are capable of developing rice varieties that are resistant to the changing weather patterns.

He said that PhilRice is home to the best agronomists and rice scientists in the region.

Angara said that the drought problem, a nagging one and  especially critical at this time of the year, has been  a drag on the country’s efforts to attain rice self-sufficiency.

"The loss from drought and post-harvest inadequacy  on a yearly basis are very serious problems," said Angara, whose father and namesake, Senator Edgardo Angara, once served as agriculture secretary.

While agriculture issues have been out of the policy radar for years due to the rise of other economic sectors, most Filipinos still rely on the agriculture sector for survival, Angara said.

He said the PhilRice should get full support from the Department of Agriculture in pursuing the attainable target of developing drought-resistant rice varieties.

And with the government's full support, the country can easily produce more than 20 million metric tons of palay a year, he stressed.

Researchers in universities around the world have been developing varieties of drought-tolerant rice.

Reports said that in Bangladesh and India, farmers have successfully grown the Shahabagi rice which survives up to 27 days of drought, while traditional varieties die after 10 to 12 days. This variety is cheaper for farmers to grow, since it does not need as much fertilizer as non-drought-resistant rice, it said.

In the Philippines, PhilRice said that its breeders are continually searching for genetic variability to broaden the gene pool of rice cultivars.

According to PhilRice, rice consumption is projected to increase at a rate corresponding to the population growth.

To meet the increasing demand for rice, PhilRice said it continues to develop varieties that respond well to varied rice ecosystems and attacks of pest and diseases.

In 2011, PhilRice developed eight new early-maturing varieties for irrigated and rainfed lowland, and saline-prone areas. These varieties did not only help farmers in adverse ecosystems achieve higher yield but also help reduce their expenses on fertilizers, irrigation, and fuel.

ABOUT REP. EDGARDO "SONNY" M. ANGARA
Rep. Edgardo "Sonny" Angara is the Chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education and Representative of the Lone District of Aurora, Philippines.  Inquiries about Rep. Edgardo M. Angara may be directed to the House of Representatives Rm. N-305, Phone: 931-5001 local 7344.