ROBINSONS PLACE BUTUAN, Butuan City – In response to Presidential Proclamation No. 524, 45 farmers participated in the kick-off activity of the month-long celebration of the National Rice Awareness Month campaign spearheaded by the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) XIII with the theme, “Be RicePonsible.”

The activity aimed to heighten the public awareness of rice to address issues relating to malnutrition, competitiveness, and self-sufficiency. It includes the campaign to utilize other staple foods like corn, sweet potatoes, cassava, and adlay when cooking rice, as well as the promotion of brown and other colored rice, avoidance of rice wastage, and purchase of locally-grown rice.

Enosencio B. Minguez, Agriculturist II, discussed the four key strategies of the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP). Ver Lancer D. Galanida, Chief Meteorologist, expounded the topic on La Niña and El Niño advisory information. On the other hand, Henry A. Jimenez, Science Research Specialist II, talked about water-saving technologies for rice production and consuming rice the healthy way.

The event was highlighted by the recitation of the Panatang Makapalay and the Be RicePonsible Pledge.

This one-day event was done in partnership with the Department of Agriculture – Caraga Region, the Philippine Rice Research Institute - Agusan Experiment Station, the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA), and the City Agriculture Office of Butuan.