MANILA: The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) said Friday (Aug 22) that Filipino consumers are showing a growing preference for premium rice varieties, particularly those imported from Vietnam.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel has directed the Rice Industry Development Office to review changing consumer preferences, noting that the trend may indicate a shift toward "quality over quantity" in rice consumption.
Preliminary studies by the DA and the Philippine Rice Research Institute show that several local inbred and hybrid varieties have qualities comparable to Vietnam's award-winning ST25 rice.
Officials said aligning production with market demand could help local farmers compete with imports and even explore export opportunities.
According to the DA, Vietnam supplies about 74 per cent of the Philippines' rice imports, with popular varieties including ST25, DT8, and OM5451. - Xinhua
