MANILA, Philippines - As the government prepares for the exportation of premium rice varieties, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is holding a contest for the branding and packaging of aromatic and upland rice varieties.
Winning works will be the official brand and package of Philippine rice exports.
Contestants who are at least 18 years old should come up with a brand name and design that uses a Filipino word and depicts local scenery directly related to rice production and farming activities.
Two designs are required: one for a one kilogram package with a size of 20 centimeters by 25 centimeters; and another for a five kilogram package with a size of 29 centimeters by 50 centimeters.
The contest is divided into two categories: manual design and computer-aided designs.
Entries for manual design should be rendered on a one fourth size illustration board using any colored media.
Entries for computer designs should be printed in color and pasted on a one fourth sized illustration board, and accompanied by an electronic copy of the artwork in PNG format saved in a compact disc.
Participants may submit three entries per category.
An information sheet indicating the contestant’s name, address, age, contact numbers, e-mail, and signature should come with the entry.
The top entry would receive the following prizes: P25,000 cash, a trophy and certificate; second prize would get P15,000; third prize, P10,000; while the other finalists would get P2,000 each.
The entries should be submitted on or before November 7, 2012, to the nearest DA-Regional Field Unit, through the DA regional executive director or the regional rice coordinator.
In ARMM, entries may be sent to the Office of the Secretary for Agriculture and Food.
For more information, the DA national rice program may be reached at telephone number 9252152 or through its email address ricematters2@yahoo.com.
The national rice program of the DA is currently identifying traditional rice varieties such as colored rice (black, red, pink, brown and purple), aromatic white rice and long grain white rice that will be developed for exportation.