EDITORIAL - Planting rice as a career

Few people are aware that the country has a Rice Science Museum. Perhaps its designation this week as a tourist spot, which will help in its promotion, will raise public awareness and lure more visitors. The Department of Tourism has included the museum, located in the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija, in an official website for tourist destinations.

The museum was launched in September last year, with a second one opened last March in Ilocos Norte. Nueva Ecija is the nation’s rice granary, and its culture, traditions and science in growing rice are featured in the museum. The Philippine Rice Research Institute, which operates the museum, hopes it will also encourage children to think of pursuing a career in agriculture.

Filipinos, however, are increasingly agreeing with the ditty about planting rice never being fun. The dwindling interest in agriculture as a profession is a worrisome trend in a country that is still largely agricultural. This waning interest has made the country lose its lead in rice research. The so-called miracle rice, which has been credited with helping ease hunger in the poorest nations, was developed at the International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños, Laguna. Today the Philippines imports seedlings for hardy, high-yielding rice varieties from Taiwan. And President Aquino failed to deliver on his promise that the Philippines would be a rice exporter by 2014. The boast has not been repeated.

The loss of interest in agriculture is also endangering one of the country’s World Heritage Sites, the majestic Ifugao Rice Terraces. Giant worms continue to erode the terraced paddies, and the ranks of rice farmers are dwindling as local youths leave their villages to pursue other professions in the cities. Better marketing of the aromatic and tasty highland rice can increase its value and make farming more attractive, but this effort needs more support.

The Rice Science Museum is a good way to raise public awareness about the nation’s staple. But if we want to ensure food security, a more aggressive effort is needed to encourage Filipinos to pursue a career in rice farming and other agricultural pursuits.