TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is looking at producing crops that can be a substitute to rice in the Cagayan Valley region in order to ensure the continuous production of a staple food for Filipino families especially in times of devastating typhoons.

DA Region 2 Director Lucrecio Alviar is urging farmers to produce other food crops as a substitute to rice and that are more resistant to extreme weather conditions.

This will help farmers have a steady livelihood even during the typhoon season.

Alviar made the call as the rice production in the region had been affected due to the typhoons and flashfloods that frequently hit the area.

“Families should not be too dependent on rice as there are other alternative food crops available in the backyard and are rich sources of carbohydrates and other nutrients. These include white corn grits (bigas mais), cardaba (saba), sweet potato (kamote), Cassava (kamoteng kahoy), taro (gabi) and job’s tears (adlai),” said Alviar.

He noted that the Cagayan Valley region is considered the country’s prime producer of corn and other cereal products.

Meanwhile, eating carbohydrates-rich foods partnered with vegetables, fish, meat and fruits are highly recommended to every individual to complete the daily nutrients requirement needed by the body.