Negros: The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) introduced two high-zinc rice varieties on Thursday to address zinc deficiency, a significant factor contributing to stunting in Filipino children. The ceremonial 'Unang Ani (first harvest)' event at the DA-PhilRice Negros Station experimental field was led by Director Ommal Abdulkadil and Dr. Mallikarjuna Swamy, high-zinc rice lead breeder from the International Rice Research Institute, with farmers and agriculture students in attendance.
According to Philippines News Agency, Abdulkadil emphasized the importance of the new rice variety in tackling micronutrient deficiencies within communities. He highlighted the role of high-zinc rice in promoting better nutrition during Nutrition Month, noting that zinc is crucial for growth, immunity, and overall well-being. Abdulkadil expressed that the high-zinc rice solution to hidden hunger could originate from everyday dining experiences.
The two high-zinc rice varieties introduced in Negros are NSIC Rc 460 and NSIC Rc 648. These zinc-rich rice varieties are also being cultivated in Bual Norte, Midsayap, and the Science City of Mu±oz, Nueva Ecija, as part of PhilRice's efforts to provide more nutritious rice options to communities nationwide. Based on 2021 data from the National Nutrition Survey by the Department of Science and Technology Food and Nutrition Research Institute, 26.7 percent of Filipino children under five years old are stunted due to inadequate intake of essential micronutrients like zinc.
Dr. Swamy explained that a daily serving of one cup or 150 grams of cooked NSIC RC 460 or Rc 648 rice can fulfill up to 25 percent of the daily zinc requirement for preschoolers. Released in 2016, NSIC RC 460 contains 19.6 mg/kg of zinc, while NSIC RC 648, approved in 2021, contains 20.4 mg/kg, surpassing the average zinc content found in common rice varieties.
Leonilo Gramaje, project lead for the Healthier Rice Program, stated that DA-PhilRice's initiatives to produce zinc-rich rice varieties are part of a nationwide seed multiplication strategy. DA-PhilRice Negros will oversee seed distribution for the Visayas region, while Nueva Ecija will serve Luzon, and Midsayap and Agusan will cover Mindanao. The goal is to reach approximately 35,000 households with high-zinc rice by 2028.
Through the Healthier Rice Program, DA-PhilRice aims to make zinc-rich varieties available to priority areas identified under the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition. These areas include Pangasinan, Quezon, Sorsogon, Iloilo, Surigao del Sur, and Maguindanao, which have high rates of stunted children and farming communities open to adopting the new rice varieties.
