BALER, Aurora – Local farmers have started to develop high-value rice to increase their income and augment the cost of transporting their goods to areas down south, including Metro Manila.
This was disclosed by Rudy Salazar, consultant of the Philippines-Korea Rice Processing and Milling Complex (RPC) in Barangay Reserva here. He added that they had introduced Japonica and Basmati rice products to farmers tilling some 11,000 hectares of rice lands in the province.
“The farmers will be on the losing end if they develop only regular rice product as the cost of transporting the goods is expensive due to the location of the province. They will still produce regular rice but only for local consumption and orders ,” said Salazar, a native of Angeles City who worked in a Thailand-based rice trading firm for ten years before being hired by Sen. Edgardo Angara and his sister, Aurora Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo.
Salazar said they had planted Japonica and Basmati to test its adaptability to the soil and weather of the province which eastern portion is adjacent to the Pacific Ocean.
“We are confident that the planting of two varieties of fancy rice, especially Japonica, will yield good results. We are 85 percent confident already,” said Salazar, a business management graduate at the University of Sto. Tomas.
Salazar disclosed that Japonica and Basmati cost about P80 and P120 per kilo, respectively, in the market. He added that Japonica is used for rice-filled Japanese food while Basmati —which originated in India and Pakistan — is known for its “superb” fragrance.
“The Basmati grain is also long compared to Japonica and others,” added Salazar, who stressed that the idea of developing high-value, fancy rice came from the Angaras.
Salazar said that their office and Aurora agriculture officials had consulted the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) for the development of the two varieties of rice.
He disclosed that the IRRA and PhilRice give information about Basmati and Japonica, respectively, to further improve its development and production in the province.
Salazar said they will sell the seeds of Basmati and Japonica to farmers at “low price” as instructed by Gov. Angara-Castillo.
Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL) President Renato “Abong” Tayag said “the improved rice industry would allow more cash flowing in the area benefiting the local economy.” He added that Sen. Angara of this town and Aurora local officials had “hit the mark” in the enhancement of the rice production.
Tayag urged Salazar and the Angaras to export Basmati and Japonica once developed by farmers.
“It will not just promote the rice industry but the province of Aurora itself in the international market. Not to mention it will generate income, especially for local farmers,” said Tayag.
This was disclosed by Rudy Salazar, consultant of the Philippines-Korea Rice Processing and Milling Complex (RPC) in Barangay Reserva here. He added that they had introduced Japonica and Basmati rice products to farmers tilling some 11,000 hectares of rice lands in the province.
“The farmers will be on the losing end if they develop only regular rice product as the cost of transporting the goods is expensive due to the location of the province. They will still produce regular rice but only for local consumption and orders ,” said Salazar, a native of Angeles City who worked in a Thailand-based rice trading firm for ten years before being hired by Sen. Edgardo Angara and his sister, Aurora Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo.
Salazar said they had planted Japonica and Basmati to test its adaptability to the soil and weather of the province which eastern portion is adjacent to the Pacific Ocean.
“We are confident that the planting of two varieties of fancy rice, especially Japonica, will yield good results. We are 85 percent confident already,” said Salazar, a business management graduate at the University of Sto. Tomas.
Salazar disclosed that Japonica and Basmati cost about P80 and P120 per kilo, respectively, in the market. He added that Japonica is used for rice-filled Japanese food while Basmati —which originated in India and Pakistan — is known for its “superb” fragrance.
“The Basmati grain is also long compared to Japonica and others,” added Salazar, who stressed that the idea of developing high-value, fancy rice came from the Angaras.
Salazar said that their office and Aurora agriculture officials had consulted the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) for the development of the two varieties of rice.
He disclosed that the IRRA and PhilRice give information about Basmati and Japonica, respectively, to further improve its development and production in the province.
Salazar said they will sell the seeds of Basmati and Japonica to farmers at “low price” as instructed by Gov. Angara-Castillo.
Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL) President Renato “Abong” Tayag said “the improved rice industry would allow more cash flowing in the area benefiting the local economy.” He added that Sen. Angara of this town and Aurora local officials had “hit the mark” in the enhancement of the rice production.
Tayag urged Salazar and the Angaras to export Basmati and Japonica once developed by farmers.
“It will not just promote the rice industry but the province of Aurora itself in the international market. Not to mention it will generate income, especially for local farmers,” said Tayag.
