MANILA, Philippines – TITIYAKIN ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang paglago ng industriya ng bigas sa Pilipinas.
Bukod dito, sisiguraduuhin din niya na protektado ang kapakanan ng mga lokal na magsasaka.
Nauna rito, ipinresenta ng mga scientists o siyentipiko mula sa International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) kay Pangulong Marcos ang “identified genes” para sa mababa at ultra-low glycaemic index (GI) sa bigas.
“We will spare no effort to ensure the growth of the rice industry here in our country even as we safeguard the welfare of farmers and consumers alike,” ang bahagi ng naging talumpati ni Pangulong Marcos.
“We will do everything to pursue and punish those who are involved in smuggling and hoarding. We will make them pay for their wrongful actions and remedy the situation,” dagdag na wika ng Pangulo.
Nakikipagtulungan na rin aniya ang pamahalaan sa international institutions gaya ng IRRI at foreign governments hindi lamang para siguraduhin na nakapirmi ang suplay ng bigas kundi para palakasin ang “development at sharing” ng mahalagang teknolohiya at estratehiya.
“We have likewise been working on our disaster preparedness and resilience so that the rice industry can respond and adapt to the effects of El Nin?o and other calamitous events,” ang winika ng Pangulo.
“The new discovery on rice will be able to convert popular rice varieties into low and ultra-low GI for refined white rice, through conventional breeding methods, keeping high quality grain and without compromising yield,” aniya pa rin.
Samantala, binigyang-diin naman ni Pangulong Marcos ang pangangailangan na patuloy na tutukan ang galaw ng kooperativa, kabilang na ang kontribusyon nito sa agricultural sector.
“I look forward to the continued partnership between the cooperative movement and even the heightened participation in executing these programs, including those that concern food, transportation, security, financial literacy, and social services,” ayon sa Punong Ehekutibo.
Aniya, paggalaw ng kooperatiba ay “very closely related to agriculture because for the simple reason that we need to consolidate our farmers.”
