By IRMA ISIP

The National Food Authority estimates that about P1.09 billion worth of rice equivalent to 9.125 million sacks are wasted every year.

The amount is enough to feed the entire population for two weeks.

The NFA said studies done by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) and Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) showed that at least 25,000 sacks of rice equivalent to P30 million is wasted every day.

The wastage includes uneaten rice thrown away, fed to pets, pot wastes or burned rice. A related study conducted by FNRI showed that food wastes is greater among smaller households.

The study associated this trend with the more liberal and abundant supply of food among households with few members.

Moreover, higher edible food wastes were observed in households with pets.

The same study also showed that food wastage was higher among households with larger budget for food, while families who have less food purchasing power cannot afford to waste as much.

The Philippines consumes about 32,000 metric tons of rice per day.

A joint project with the Department of Agriculture, the rice conservation program is a nationwide advocacy campaign aimed at teaching Filipinos the value of rice conservation.

The DA-NFA rice conservation program also advocates the use of brown rice.

Studies revealed that brown rice is a rich source of dietary fiber and is a healthier alternative for people suffering from diabetes, obesity and heart-related ailments. Brown rice also has both preventive and curative properties for cancer, it added.

Based on the studies by the Asia Rice Foundation, the complete milling and polishing process in the conversion of brown rice to white rice destroys 15 percent of its protein, 85 percent of its fat, 90 percent of its calcium, 75 percent of its phosphorus, 80 percent of its thiamine, 70 percent of its riboflavin and 68 percent of its niacin contents.