Mindanao exports black rice to the Middle East

DAVAO CITY – At least 15 metric tons of organic black rice produced by cooperatives in the south were recently shipped to the Middle East, affirming Mindanao’s position as the country’s food basket.

The shipment, facilitated by the Department of Agriculture (DA), was deemed as a trial export of organic black rice produced and processed by the Don Bosco Multi-Purpose Cooperative, the pioneering organization in bios dynamis technology farming in Mindanao and the biggest supplier of organic rice in the country.

“This initiative requires strong government and private partnership and effort. With consistent support like this, we can really help more organic farmers and convert more lands to organic plantations,” said Don Bosco general manager Romano Laurilla.

The cooperative is the first in the country to obtain accreditation from the Certification of Environmental Standards (CERES) for organic rice production, trading, and export. CERES is a European-based inspection and certification company on organic farming, food processing, textiles, and biofuels.

Laurilla added that to strengthen organic farming in the country, the government must provide good support mechanisms for scaling up organic farming not just in Mindanao.

“Our organization is more than willing to share this technology and expertise with other interested organizations here in Mindanao, and in other parts of the country,” said Laurilla.

The Don Bosco Multi-purpose Cooperative works in partnership with the Don Bosco Foundation for Sustainable Development, a civil society organization that aims to empower farming communities through sustainable development initiatives.

“This is a welcome development for Mindanao, and we aim to secure our position as the country’s reliable source of high-quality agricultural products,” said Mindanao Development Authority chair Luwalhati Antonino, adding that Mindanao remains the best-suited island in the country for rice production.

The cooperative has already shipped organic rice products to Germany, Canada, and Macau, and is eyeing to send 800 kilograms of organic rice sample products to the Netherlands within the month.

The Dubai shipment is the cooperative’s largest international shipment so far, which was complemented by a parallel shipment of 20 metric tons of Jasponica aromatic white rice from the farmers of Talavera, Nueva Ecija.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that the Dubai rice shipment is a huge feat for Philippine rice farmers since it has been almost four decades since the Philippines exported rice products.

As of last year, Region 12 remains as Mindanao’s top rice producer, and the eighth top rice producer in the country. The region also attained 127 percent rice-sufficiency for 2012.