Finding an alternative for rice can be certainly difficult in the Philippines, but researchers and experts from the Department of Agriculture (DA) have found a contender with adlai. In an effort to find nutritious rice alternatives, the DA advised Filipinos to look at the more nutritious and high-fiber “adlai” cereal as a cheaper alternative to traditional grains like rice and corn. The DA also included adlai and its production in the Philippines in the institution’s mainstream research and development program, as one of the country’s best-kept secrets and a potent weapon against hunger in a “climate-changed world.”
Known as “Jacob’s Tears,” adlai belongs to the same family of weeds as rice, wheat and corn. In Zamboanga del Sur, it is also used as the main ingredient for the manufacture of the wine called “pangasi.” Adlai has several mutations and variations, most of which the DA says are good and healthy rice alternatives.
Learn more about this powerful grain and rice alternative in this article.
An Effective Alternative for Rice in the Philippines
Adlai is one of the top runners for rice alternatives in the country. Consuming adlai is remarkably similar to rice. Additionally, it also has a similar flavor profile, albeit tinged with a slight nuttiness.
However, flavor isn’t the only reason adlai is considered as a prime alternative for rice in the Philippines. The super-grain has garnered attention because of the nutrients found in the crop. According to research, adlai is a great source of energy, particularly complex carbohydrates. It is also high in protein, fiber, and minerals while having a low glycemic index. This makes adlai a healthier alternative for those who need to control their blood sugar levels.
Adlai grains are endemic to the Philippines, although not as widely grown. Despite this, the grain is actually quite popular where it is produced, such as Bukidnon and Mindanao. The DA aims to spread this popularity on a national level.
Adlai Grain in the Philippines
Adlai is an incredibly versatile and powerful grain. In the Philippines, the DA prioritizes adlai as one of the best rice alternatives not only because of its health benefits, but also its resilience. As a grain, adlai is also incredibly cheap, making it a suitable choice for farmers.
The grain is grown in large quantities in Mindanao as a staple. Scientifically known as Coix lacryma-jobi L., adlai belongs to the Poaceae grass family to which crops like rice, corn and wheat also belong. It is cultivated as a cereal crop in tropics and subtropics, like in India, China, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia.
Rice alternatives can be hard to find here in the Philippines, but the DA stands by the potential of adlai. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the grain has three times more calories and nearly six times more protein than rice and is regarded as a cure for diabetes and some types of allergies. Alcala has also been promoting adlai since 2010 and even included the indigenous cereal in the food-security blueprint called the Food Staples Sufficiency Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
These variants share flavor, but there’s something more than just its taste that makes it a good rice alternative in the Philippines. Adlai has antitumor and other medicinal properties, which can help mitigate the symptoms of allergies and diabetes. It is also reported to be high in fiber. Moreover, adlai is also known for its resilience against extreme conditions brought about by climate change. In a country like the Philippines, this resilience is extremely valuable.
Adaptability trials were also conducted by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) to assess the performance of the different varieties of adlai. In these trials, 11 varieties were identified: gulian, kinampay (ginampay), pulot (or tapol), linay, mataslai, agle gestakyan, Nomiarc dwarf, jalayhay and ag-gey. Of these varieties, gulian, kinampay and pulot are endemic to the country.
Adlai is among the most versatile rice and grains. It can be made into crackers, maki or sushi, rice cake and cookies. Coffee and flour can also be processed from the grain. In fact, given the versatility of the grain, the BAR has undertaken a study on how to package and sell adlai as a high-fiber cereal for weight-conscious buyers.
While rice remains as the country’s top choice for carbohydrates, finding adlai in supermarkets is not uncommon today. In Mindanao, adlai sell at P50 a kilo, while corn grits retail for P25 per kilo to P30 per kilo. Because of its affordability from the production phase alone, adlai remains up to par as one of the cheaper rice alternatives in the Philippines.
Adlai Grain Production and Testing in the Philippines
Scientific institutions and private entities continue to conduct studies and research on adlai production and marketing. Aside from the DA, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Insitute and PhilMech continue to find ways to safeguard and promote the grain. This is in line with the 32 adlai-related projects from BAR which involves state colleges and universities, and other research and development institutions across the country.
PhilMech Executive Director Rex L. Bingabing said the agency is working on a package of technologies for the postharvest of adlai.
“Adlai, while not yet widely planted at present, has a good potential to help local communities assure their food needs. It can be cooked like rice but there is a need to address the postharvest issues related to adlai which PhilMech is currently doing,” he added.
PhilMech is currently evaluating two milling systems for adlai grains in the Philippines. Existing rubber-roller type mills can process 12 cavans of unmilled adlai per hour with a 60-percent milling recovery. Research showed that threshing harvested adlai should be in the early hours of the day, and the optimum moisture content should be between 15 percent and 17 percent during the process.
Milled adlai grains are found to be susceptible to insect infestation and fungal contamination. PhilMech tests showed that a moisture content of around 10 percent for milled adlai grains that are stored in hermetic containers can protect the grains from insect infestation for up to 1.5 months. The hermetic bag also minimized the proliferation of fungal infection.
PhilMech also conducted cooking tests for adlai, which showed that water requirement for cooking is not different from that of milled white rice. When it came to eating the cooked adlai grains, however, blind tests conducted by PhilMech in Nueva Ecija showed consumers still preferred rice to adlai because of the unfamiliarity to the latter. However, adlai and rice mixed at a ratio of 25:75 was also favored by consumers who took part in the blind tests.
On the other hand, DOST-PNRI researchers are currently breeding mutant crops of the ginampay variety of adlai. The putative mutants are already in the fifth generation. After irradiating the seeds with doses of 100 grays (Gy) to 200 Gy, they are planted and grown for further observation.
The adlai crops are to be developed up to the eighth generation to complete the mutation breeding process. The experimental crops matured up to 28 days earlier than the unirradiated variety, and were also 17 percent to 24 percent shorter.
Using gamma radiation, PNRI has been working since 2013 to improve the agronomic traits of adlai by making mutant varieties that yield more grain and mature earlier, while also having shorter heights to make the crops more resistant to lodging during typhoons.
Besides developing mutant varieties, PNRI is also conducting studies to improve the fertilizer, soil nutrient and water management practices for adlai.
The field experiments were done in partnership with the Bureau of Soils and Water Management. It is under an International Atomic Energy Agency project on “Enhancing Productivity of Locally Underused Crops Through Dissemination of Mutated Germplasm and Evaluation on Soil, Nutrient and Water Management Practices”.
The improvements will also complement the Food Staples Sufficiency Program of the Department of Agriculture, which encourages the diversification of staple food crops beyond rice by increasing production, ensuring market availability and lowering its prices.
Since the DA has prioritized adlai grains as a crop in the Philippines, research from the institution has also been given much focus.
Jennifer Remoquillo, DA national coordinator for high-value crops development program, said the adlai program revolves around three central tasks: Encourage increased consumption of the cereal in various product forms; area expansion and achievement of better yields through continuous technology demonstrations and making quality seeds available to farmers, and; promotion of better harvest and post-harvest practices and facilities.
DA has allocated P26 million for these activities in the past two years, with P16 million to be spent for this year. To inspire more farmers to plant the crop, Alcala asked Constancio Alama, director of the DA regional field unit 9, to start buying the adlai harvest of farmers in Zamboanga Sibugay. According to Alcala, part of the harvest will be distributed as seedlings in other parts of the country.
The Future of Adlai
Of course, adlai grain production won’t just end in its distribution in the Philippines. Beyond the local production and distribution, Alcala is also initially eyeing Japan as a possible market for the grain, as there have already been Japanese importers who expressed strong interest to buy the commodity when they visited the country in 2012.