Gov’t pushing for rice-corn mixture as alternative staple food

Starting this year, the government will be rolling out a program that will incorporate corn in the country’s food supply which would hopefully lessen the dependence of Filipinos on rice as a staple.

A 50-50 rice-corn mixture made of rice and white corn grits will be made available to the market as an initiative of both the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA), according to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol in an interview.

The two agencies were directed to form a technical working group that will look into the production, procurement, and distribution of this mixture. “By the end of this year, we will already introduce the blend to the market,” according to Piñol.

This new grain variety is expected to provide a healthier food option for Filipinos, ease the pressure for the country to import more rice, and provide support to local corn growers.

The proposal was supposed to be rolled-out earlier this year, but the agencies encountered difficulties on transferring the funds to its private-sector partner. Piñol said that this has already been resolved.

The agencies are looking at piloting this in Metro Manila and will use 50,000 metric tons of white corn in its initial stage to produce the mix, where a kilo would be sold between P36 to P38.

Corn as an alternative main source of carbohydrates

Roger Barroga, Deputy Executive Director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute, recommended the use of corn as an alternative main source of carbohydrates.

This is because of two factors: (1) our body digests corn longer so the release of energy would also be slower than when we eat rice, and (2) corn contains more fiber, which can help prevent stunting among children.

However, Barroga explains that there is a preconceived notion for eating rice-corn blends.

“The only problem is, there is a social notion that if you eat rice-corn blend, you are poor. We are trying to remove that perception. Rice and corn are equally good so the latter is a good alternative staple. It is even cheaper and will lessen our rice imports,” he explains.

Piñol said that they are hoping that consumers in areas like Metro Manila, Bicol, Central Luzon and Northern Luzon, who normally do not consume corn as a main source of carbohydrates, would be open to try this new variety as a main staple – similar to the consumers from the regions of Visayas and Mindanao.

via Inquirer.net / Karl R. Ocampo