ASEAN integration seen to boost markets for Philippines organic rice produce

Prospects appear bright for the country’s organically-grown products with the integration by next year of the 10 member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Leo Cañeda, coordinator of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-led National Organic Agriculture Board, said producers of organic farm products could tap key cities or areas within ASEAN as primary target for market expansion when the region’s economic integration eventually rolls out.

He said products like organic high-value vegetables and rice produced in Region 12 or the Soccsksargen Region could take the lead in the export expansion.

The region comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

“There’s so much opportunities and advantages for our organic farmers in the ASEAN economic integration,” he said at the opening of the four-day 1st Soccsksargen Region Organic Agriculture Congress and Trade Fair here on Wednesday.


But Cañeda said organic farmers or producers should be prepared and equipped with the proper skills and knowledge so they can properly market their products in the ASEAN.

He specifically cited the proper quality standards and other related requirements for organic export products.

ASEAN created a special task force last year to lead the development and promotion of the region’s standards on organic agriculture.

The task force is specifically working on the crafting of a common standard agreeable to and recognized by the ASEAN member-states to facilitate the trading of organic products in the region.

Region 12 has around 50 hectares of palay areas that are mainly producing organic premium rice varieties for exports.

Last year, the area’s organic rice producers have started exporting black rice and other colored, long grained and aromatic rice varieties to the Middle East and Singapore.

DA Region 12 is currently working for the entry of locally-produced premium rice to major markets in Russia, Italy, United States and other parts of the Middle East.

Thailand Commerce Ministry pushes for expansion of organic rice cultivation

The Commerce Ministry is planning to increase the market shares of Thai organic rice in both domestic and world markets, to resolve the problems of falling rice prices and tap the rising popularity for health products among consumers.

Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade (DIT) Jintana Chaiyawannakarn has gone down to inspect an organic rice production farm owned by the Farm Suk Company in Saraburi central province.

According to Ms. Jintana, the farm provides a model for other organic rice growers to boost quality of their produce. She also said that the demand for organic rice is continuously on the rise, as a number of consumers have become increasingly cautious about their health.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kan Traithong, the owner of Farm Suk, revealed that the capital cost for an organic rice farm is only around 3,000 baht per rai since the crop does not require pesticides or chemicals.

Organic rice currently fetches a price of up to 10,000 baht per ton in the market. The high demand, both in local and international markets, has made organic rice an attractive source of investment.