Kalinga unoy passes US market standard
by Larry Lopez
TABUK, KALINGA (1 October) -- Two varieties of the renowned Kalinga Unoy has passed the buying standard of the international rice market based in Montana, USA.
This was the breaking news relayed last week by Revitalized Indigenous Cordillera Entrepreneur (RICE) Chairman Vicky Garcia who brought home samples of the "Inowoyan" and "Mimis" taken for quality test in Montana last month. There were 7 samples submitted.
Kalinga red Unoy has a rare delectable taste and aroma, which could invite the whole neighborhood when cooked. In the Kalinga tradition, Unoy is exclusively served during festivals and ceremonies to please the Kalinga God "Kabunyan" for a bountiful harvest.
Farmers said they do not use mechanical milling but manual pounding, when separating the grain from the husk on the Unoy so as not to affect its delectability.
However, Unoy has a lower capacity yield than other regular rice varieties. Agriculture technicians said Inowoyan can yield 65.62 cavans of palay per 1.05 hectare, while Mimis has 2,099 from 70.80 hectares. The average yield of palay per hectare in the province is 120 cavans.
The two varieties are mostly raised in Upper Tabuk, in Nambucayan and Magnao. However, other towns of Kalinga which produce the same varieties are also given equal opportunities in this venture.
Garcia has scheduled the procurement of the first shipment of Unoy from Kalinga by Oct. 21 at the Pastoral Center to be participated by at least 100 farmers. Among the towns invited and their farmer-representatives include Tabuk - 46; Lubuagan - 15; Pinukpuk - 10; Tinglayan - 5; Pasil - 5 and Tanudan 15. October is the harvest time for the May-October cropping.
Garcia said RICE's initial price on the Kalinga Unoy is P50 a kilo. Its target volume for the first shipment is 5 tons.
In the international market, red rice is produced only by provinces from the Himalayas and Nepal.
Garcia, who is working for the marketing of the Cordillera red rice abroad through the 8th Wonder, met with Unoy farmers and agriculture officials of the province last week.
Garcia has also invited farmers from Kalinga to the First Farmers Congress which will be held in Banaue, Ifugao next year. She said this will be the avenue for Cordillera farmers to raise their concerns confronting the rice trade in the country. Since Kalinga was given 20 slots to the congress, the province has set a criteria in choosing who will attend. (PIA) [top]
