ARMM consumed most rice in RP

RICE consumption was highest in the poorest  region of the Philippines, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Annual per capita consumption was 144.66 kg. This is according to a study by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS). “Soccsksargen ranked next with 136.5 kg. On the other hand, the least consumption was observed in Central Visayas at 95.21 kg.”

The study also revealed that average per capita consumption of rice among Filipinos was 119.08 kg.

Across socioeconomic classes, class “AB” households of Soccsksargen (or Region 12) had the biggest per capita consumption of rice at 162.66 kg annually. Class “E” households in Zamboanga Peninsula recorded the lowest at 87.98 kg per year.

The BAS also found that annual per capita consumption of corn was 7.07 kilos at the national level. Estimates were higher at 37.08 kilos for Central Visayas, 33.96 kilos for Northern Mindanao, and 32.55 kilos for Zamboanga Peninsula.

“On the contrary, less than 1 kilo of corn was consumed by each person every year in the  National Capital Region (NCR), Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and ARMM.”

The bureau said Class “E” households of Northern Mindanao had the highest annual per capita consumption of corn at 51.06 kg. It was lowest among Class “E” households in the NCR and Class “AB” households in Mimaropa, Eastern Visayas and ARMM at less than 0.001 kg a year.

As for pork and chicken, the study found that average annual per capita consumption of the two meat products remain low—pork was estimated at 9.15 kg and chicken 7.9 kilos nationally, although “pork and chicken were the most preferred meat products across the country.”

Urban barangays in Calabarzon and the NCR had, however, the highest average annual per capita consumption of pork and chicken estimated at 12.74 kilos and 11.65 kilos, respectively.

Per capita consumption of pork in Calabarzon was noted highest in urban barangays of Batangas at 17.73 kilos a year. Consumption of pork was significantly lower for both urban and rural dwellers in ARMM, specifically in rural households in Basilan, Lanao del Norte and Tawi-Tawi at 0.05 kilo each year.

“For chicken meat, the lowest consumption was reported in rural barangays of Bohol at 3.02 kilos per person per year.”

Per capita consumption of vegetable among Filipinos was also low, with national level estimates for eggplant placed at 4.21 kg, 2.6 kilos for tomato and 2.55 kilos for ampalaya.

As for camote, the average annual per capital intake stood at 4.06 kg. The highest annual per capita consumption among regions was noted in Northern Mindanao at 9 kg. In the NCR, it was estimated at only 0.73 kg annually.

Filipinos preferred round scad, or galunggong, among all fishery products. Average per capita consumption was pegged at 5.36 kilos. Among all regions, Eastern Visayas registered the highest consumption at 8.06 kilos per person.

The study found that Filipinos also consumed instant noodles a year on the average almost on a par with vegetables. Each Filipino consumes an average of 2.86 kilos of instant noodles per year, with the province of La Union posting the highest estimate at 9.15 kilos per person per year.

Pan de sal is the preferred bread, with annual average consumption placed at 4.16 kilos. On the average per capita consumption of pan de sal was highest in the NCR and Calabarzon at 6.03 kilos each per year. –Jennifer A. Ng / Reporter, Businessmirror