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Trade Organization to its member countries. Lauengco said Typhoon Ondoy which struck the country in 2009 resulted to the loss of 500,000 metric tons of rice. Due to this, an inter-agency committee comprised of the NFA, Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) closely monitors weather disturbances which may decrease
the country’s rice yield. In line with this, DA is also developing a new variety of hybrid rice which could withstand constant rains and could increase the farmers’ yield at the same time. Lauengco also clarified that DA does not use GMO rice. Lauengco also said that lifting the quantitative restrictions on rice importation will also affect the country’s drive to reach the self-sufficiency target. The Philippines and South Korea are the only member countries
of the World Trade Organization (WTO) who have not lifted the restriction. He said lifting the quantitative restrictions puts local farmers’ income at risk as imported rice is cheaper than rice produced locally. The restriction of rice importation in the Philippines will be lifted on June 2012. However, the government has already formed a task force to ask members of the WTO for an extension for the implementation of quantitative restriction. (PND GGPIA-GHQ)
DA develops new variety of hybrid rice by Alice V. Sicat QUEZON CITY, Sept. 16 (PIA) –- A new variety of hybrid rice that could withstand the changing weather conditions of the country is currently being developed by the Department of Agriculture (DA), said Special Assistant to the Administrator Atty. Gilbert Lauengco of the National Food Authority (NFA) on Thursday. In the program “Talking Points” held at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and aired over DZRB - Radyo ng Bayan, Atty. Lauengco clarified that the hybrid
rice they are developing is not a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO). “Ang hybrid rice po ay pinagsasama lang ang binhi at kinukuha ang mga magagandang
aspeto ng mga bigas (Hybrid rice is only the combination of the outstanding qualities of different seed),” he said. Since palay is vulnerable, a new variety of hybrid 13
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Friday, September 16, 2011