Smarter News Now
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Email Whitelisting
No Result
View All Result
  • Top News
  • Economy News
  • Forex News
  • Investing News
  • Stock News
  • Politics News
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Top News
  • Economy News
  • Forex News
  • Investing News
  • Stock News
  • Politics News
  • Editor’s Pick
No Result
View All Result
Smarter News Now
No Result
View All Result
Home Investing News

Demand management

by
June 20, 2022
in Investing News
0
Demand management
0
SHARES
21
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
PEXELS-PIXABAY

I was listening to outgoing Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) President and incoming Trade and Industry Secretary Fred Pascual on TV the other day and was pleasantly surprised that he believed in managing demand to address the current challenges of a high import food bill.

He spoke about our rice situation and how we could “massage” demand so as to import less of the staple. He suggested using corn as a substitute, especially for those who grew up eating corn grits — and the host agreed as he grew up in Negros Island. I was waiting for Mr. Pascual to mention adlai, a grain not known to many, especially here in the Metro. Adlai is a grain also called Job’s tears (it is grown also in China and in ASEAN countries) and is now a good substitute to the famous quinoa of South America. It is also touted to be lower in the glycemic index and is healthier for diabetics.

Chefs have used adlai as an alternative to rice in rice-based dishes like paella, risotto, and arroz caldo (congee) — or maybe it should now be called adlai caldo. It can also be used, of course in champorado (chocolate rice porridge), too. More importantly, it can be used steamed as a substitute for everyday rice.

The other important commodity is flour, more specifically, wheat flour. As a tropical country, we do not grow wheat so all of the wheat we consume in our pan de sal (a bread roll) is imported. Mr. Pascual mentioned using some substitutes like coconut flour for even 10% of our wheat recipes to manage demand. And 10% for Filipinos who eat pan de sal and “tasty” or American-style loaf bread every day is a lot. Imagine the burgers and spaghetti we consume every day in fast food chains! But substitutions like this need the approval of franchisors in changing recipes and we hope that our very own Filipino fast-food chains lead the way. That could really change the import demand, one burger at a time.

I have seen mango flour, camote flour, and coconut flour. Many food trendsetters have also used these for gluten-free recipes, as wheat (along with barley and rye) contains gluten which triggers Celiac disease or gluten intolerance in those sensitive to it. Our substitute flours do not contain gluten. Now, we only have to develop the industries of mango and camote flour, and we will need less wheat in the years to come.

Mr. Pascual mentioned coffee, but I will now offer the substitute to instant coffee — and that is brewing your own cup. Besides soluble coffee, a big part of our imports also is importing coffee in capsules, the trendier imported brand of ready-to-brew with the push of a button. While the machines are affordable, the capsules are expensive given that they are filled abroad and also create much waste via their disposable single-use aluminum canisters. We produce coffee in the Philippines, albeit short for our demand, but shifting demand to roast and ground coffee can make a difference. Imagine how much coffee you can buy with each capsule you stop using. And you will be supporting the local coffee industry in a more sustainable manner.

Besides rice, flour, and coffee, we can also manage the amount of instant noodles we consume. These wheat-based convenience food packs contribute to wheat imports and may soon be priced beyond the common man’s budget. Instead, we can shift to our own convenience food like boiled bananas and camote (sweet potato) — definitely healthier but just as filling. Convenience stores have started to sell ripe bananas (export seconds but just as good) and they can now offer boiled bananas, camote, and hard boiled eggs as a healthier snack alternative to instant noodles.

I may be sounding like or thinking of Utopia, but demand is shaped by information and trends on social media and traditional ones like this column. In our humble farm, we get a regular supply of saba bananas (perfect for boiling or frying) and coconut (for meat, juice, and more). If we get more people to eat less imported food, we can definitely shape demand and manage it, like Mr. Pascual suggested.

And finally, let’s manage our dependence on palm oil because we have coconut oil. Palm oil is imported, even if it is cheaper. The manner in which it is produced is also not eco-friendly as it has destroyed many forests and fertile land. It may be a generalization, but if we have coconut oil in our backyards (meaning our country), let us prefer coconut oil. Did you know that even the scraps of grated coconut in the market can be dried and still produce 30% more coconut oil like olive oil’s pomace? This can be good for frying — if only industrious “waste champions” collect them and process them to make more oil. But we choose to buy imported palm oil rather than squeeze the last bit from our coconuts. The same with waste like the coconut shell. Did you know we could gather them and sell them to be made into charcoal briquets?

Let us manage our demand for imports and think of ways to substitute what we have on hand. Let’s start in our homes, and our businesses, and soon we can heave a sigh of relief as we develop more local industries, instead of just pressing a button to make another order for imports.

Think about it when you eat or drink today. Think of your bread, your rice, and your coffee. And, of course, your cooking oil. You are a co-producer. What you eat or drink is what farmers will grow.

This article reflects the personal opinion of the author and does not reflect the official stand of the Management Association of the Philippines or MAP.

Chit U. Juan is a member of the MAP Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and the MAP Agribusiness Committee. She is chair of the Philippine Coffee Board, councilor of Slow Food for Southeast Asia, and is an advocate for organic agriculture.

map@map.org.ph

pujuan29@gmail.com

ShareTweetPin

Related Posts

Senate grills Rodriguez on approval procedures for sugar import order
Investing News

Senate grills Rodriguez on approval procedures for sugar import order

August 23, 2022
Trade dep’t expecting sugar price monitoring report by Friday
Investing News

Trade dep’t expecting sugar price monitoring report by Friday

August 23, 2022
Fisherfolk seek halt to reclamation on municipal fisheries
Investing News

Fisherfolk seek halt to reclamation on municipal fisheries

August 23, 2022
Supreme Court rules petitioners have no standing in PDS ‘monopoly’ case
Investing News

Supreme Court rules petitioners have no standing in PDS ‘monopoly’ case

August 23, 2022
ERC signals planned overhaul of regulatory practices via benchmarking exercise with regional counterparts
Investing News

ERC signals planned overhaul of regulatory practices via benchmarking exercise with regional counterparts

August 23, 2022
Malaysian trade official urges PHL to sign up for RCEP  
Investing News

Malaysian trade official urges PHL to sign up for RCEP  

August 23, 2022
Next Post
Jennifer Kupcho wins three-woman playoff at Meijer LPGA Classic

Jennifer Kupcho wins three-woman playoff at Meijer LPGA Classic

Get the daily email that makes reading the news actually enjoyable. Stay informed and entertained, for free.
Email Address *
Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!
 

Recommended

Economy to sustain recovery — BSP

Economy to sustain recovery — BSP

July 18, 2022
Commuting in, DIY out: UK’s new ‘new normal’ after end of Covid controls

Commuting in, DIY out: UK’s new ‘new normal’ after end of Covid controls

August 10, 2022
The mainstream moment for foldable smartphones is here

The mainstream moment for foldable smartphones is here

July 27, 2022
Brits in EU slide into Brexit banking limbo as Barclays, Lloyd’s and Halifax shut their accounts

Brits in EU slide into Brexit banking limbo as Barclays, Lloyd’s and Halifax shut their accounts

August 15, 2022
History of cryptocurrencies before the launching of bitcoin!

History of cryptocurrencies before the launching of bitcoin!

August 14, 2022
PSEi up on last-minute buying ahead of GDP data

PSEi up on last-minute buying ahead of GDP data

August 8, 2022
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Email Whitelisting

Copyright © 2022 SmarterNewsNow.
All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimer: SmarterNewsNow.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice.
The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Email Whitelisting
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Thank You

Copyright © 2020 SmarterNewsNow. All Rights Reserved.