By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
The Department of Agriculture (D.A.) has tasked the Rice Industry Development Office (RIDO) to look into the apparent shift in Filipino rice preferences, noting the uptick in demand for imported rice—particularly Vietnamese varieties.
In a media release on Friday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. cited this phenomenon as indicative of a change in consumer priorities; with more Filipinos possibly choosing quality over quantity—especially in terms of texture, aroma, and overall eating experience—and may warrant a policy response.
Secretary Tiu-Laurel said, “This trend is worth watching. It may be telling us something important about what Filipino consumers are looking for. It may now be a question of quality over quantity, and that could require a shift in our agricultural policy.”
Filipino consumers are broadening their rice preferences beyond intermediate amylose varieties to include low-amylose rice, which offers a softer, stickier texture when cooked and has a low gelatinization temperature that enhances digestibility. Despite this shift, there remains a strong preference for long, slender grains and the soft texture of well-cooked rice.
The Agriculture chief’s directive would warrant a proactive and comprehensive approach in gauging consumer behavior and rice preferences, yielding feedback that would help local farmers and millers to adapt to the market trends, improve grain quality, and explore export potential.
Meanwhile, RIDO Undersecretary Christopher Morales said there have already been preliminary studies comparing Vietnamese rice to locally available inbred rice, “I think, in terms of quality, we have the varieties to compete with imported rice—if that is what the market requires.”
He cited local rice varieties—Rc 218, Rc 160, Rc 480, and Rc 512—as having similar characteristics to Vietnam’s Soc Trang 25 (ST25) variety, which can be honed for rice breeders to develop premium-quality rice under local conditions that can compete with foreign imports in domestic and international markets.
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