The Philippine Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research
Institute (DA-PhilRice) announced the first seven provinces to
plantGolden Rice this year. Dr. Ronan Zagado, program leader of Golden
Rice, made the announcement during a meeting with rice stakeholders in
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in Cotabato City.

Golden Rice isgenetically engineered to provide up to 50 percent of the
estimated average requirement for vitamin A in young children, the age
group most susceptible to vitamin A deficiency in the Phillipines. DA
Bureau of Plant Industry approved the propagation of Golden Rice in the
Philippines in July 2021.

The list of provinces that will plant Golden Rice this year includes
Maguindanao, which has one of the highest cases of stunting among
infants and children ages five years and below, which is a symptom of
vitamin A deficiency. Dr. Zagado said that once there is a sufficient
supply of Golden Rice, Maguindanao will be the first province to avail
of its health benefits. The other provinces mentioned were Quirino,
Catanduanes, Samar, Antique, Lanao del Norte, and Agusan del Sur.

7 provinces to produce 'golden' rice | The Manila Times
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