US Ambassador Kristie Kenney lauded the rice farmers for feeding the nation and the scientists and researchers for thinking of tomorrow especially in dealing with the inevitable.“Congratulations for the great work you as farmers are doing in feeding this nation every single day,” Kenney said to the applause of more than 1,500 farmers, scientists, and researchers who attended the Farmers’ Field Day, one of the highlights of the 21st National Rice Research and Development Conference held in the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) based in Maligaya, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija on March 11-13, 2008.
Kenney was speaker during the first day of the Farmers’ Field Day.
In her speech, Kenney also extolled the rice scientists and researchers for thinking how to produce the very best varieties, how to make them environmentally sustainable, and how to make sure that the land continues to be good tomorrow.
“Congratulations for working hard in order to deal with the inevitable natural disasters and the weather issues that we can’t control.”
Before her speech, she was accompanied by Dr. Leocadio Sebastian, PhilRice executive director, in touring the experimental rice fields of the institute and in getting information about the latest technologies in rice research.
She also gamely danced the “tinikling” together with the members of the “Bungkos Palay Troupe” brought in by the Science City of Muñoz Mayor Nestor Alvarez.“
It is hard to understand the Philippines if you don’t understand rice for it is the great part of the agricultural output in this county and it is in every table everywhere,” Kenney averred.
She further said the US government will continue supporting efforts in agriculture and in building capabilities, jobs training, and livelihood so that the poor sector can share the benefits of the great economic growth in the country. “As you know, we keep in putting millions of dollars every year in agriculture in this country,” she concluded. (The WebTeam-www.philrice.gov.ph)
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