AN ESSAY ABOUT ADLAI

1. Adlai’s Efficacy as Alternative Staple Food
By Sarajena, Carlagane C.
Scarcity of food resulting to starvation and death are amid of the popular issues faced by
our country nowadays. Low production of rice and corn is what farmers usually encountered due
to some factors such as incidence of pest and diseases, climate change, reduction of production
areas and soil degradation in terms of fertility and acidity. Considering the shortage of food supply
in the Philippines, it is not enough to feed the growing population, a food in lieu of rice and corn
must be considered. Adlai was being planted and used as staple food in other countries, but here
in the Philippines, Adlai remains unpopular and is taken for granted. This crop is believed to solve
the food shortage in the country. A reason why an Adlai crop is being introduced as an alternative
to both rice and corn (Sarmiento, 2012) and this is also one of the primary reasons why the Bureau
of Agricultural Research (BAR) is exploring the potentials of this crop.
Adlai (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) is originally an heirloom grain from Aglayan, Malaybalay,
Bukidnon. Locally grown and cultivated in the highlands of the Philippines and internationally
known as Job’s Tears, as its grains resembles a tear-like shape. It is a native crop introduced as
staple food in Africa. It also grows in tropical parts of Eastern and Southern Asia. Adlai has three
varieties commonly grown and found in the country, these are ginampay(kinampay), gulian and
pulot(tapol). Adlai variety with violet seed coats(ginampay), dark-brown and reddish-brown seed
coats (pulot) are glutinous, while those with white-beige seed coats (gulian) are non-glutinous. In
the study, Varietal Performance of Adlai, results showed that all the said varieties have no
significant difference in terms of the circumference of the stalk, plant height and average number
of leaves. However, amid the 3 varieties, tapol was considered resistant to the infestation of pests
and diseases since it obtained the lowest number of unfilled grains.
The Department of Agriculture found out that Adlai can produce 8-12 tillers. Wherefore,
Subanen farmers preferred Adlai as an alternative staple food because of its characteristics that
tolerates in acidic soil and waterlogged area, resists pests and diseases and most of all can produce
a high yield in the highlands (dela Cruz, 2011). However, in the study of Nabua, W. et. al.,
geographical location affects the number of Adlai tillers because during the vegetative stage of
Adlai crop, several of rice bug were present in the site of experimentation. These insect pests
directly suck the milky grains of Adlai, which in the end failed the spikelet to develop into grains.
As a result, there were lots of unfilled grains. The study also showed that gulian and ginampay are
early maturing varieties of Adlai.
In the study conducted by PhilRice, results showed ginampay as the most acceptable
variety. Blending it with rice variety NSIC Rc160 at 50:50 ratio increased the protein composition
and the healthy fat content of the blend. While adlai naturally contains lesser amount of
carbohydrates, the 50:50 ratio of rice-ginampay provided the same amount of energy with that of
pure rice. The blend had no significant effect on the ash and dietary fiber. In the meantime, at a
ratio of 25:75, Adlai mixed with rice was also preferred by consumers who took part in the blind
test in Munoz.
Adlai is primarily eaten as a staple food substitute for rice and corn. It is also a good
replacement for, cous cous, pasta, orzo, arborio, quinoa, barley and millet One of the potential
characteristics that make Adlai a good alternative to rice and corn is its highest energy content of
food which is 356 kcal which are comparable to brown and white rice (BAR, 2010). Adlai is at
least 14 percent protein, 50 percent starch and only 6 percent fat (Santos, 2012). Adlai is proven
and tested as Gluten-Free. Aside from that, this can also be processed into flour for baking
purposes and other delicacies, as well as for wine and beer production. With the potential in
securing food sufficiency, an R&D program on this crop is currently undertaken in selected regions
of the Philippines. In relation to this, the Department of Agriculture-Northern Mindanao Integrated
Agricultural Research Center (DA-NOMIARC) in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City is developing,
promoting and utilizing Adlai to enhance and sustainably nurture its potential as an alternative

2. staple food source for Filipinos. Adlai can be cooked like rice and corn grits. It is also a potential
feedstuff for the ruminant and non-ruminant animals. Adlai is commonly used as medicine in
China as one of the popularized food herbs in diet and therapy for painful and stiff joints. Adlai is
known to its medicinal characteristics because of its anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant,
antihistaminic, fever reducing, and sugar lowering properties. Lowering cholesterol, high in VITB-
complex, calcium, iron and protein.
References
ADLAI: A never heard of crop that resembles, taste like rice… Retrieved from:
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Adlai Is the Gluten-Free Grain That You Should Be Cooking With… Retrieved from:
http://www.yummy.ph/lessons/cooking/adlai-jobs-tears-how-to-cook
BAR Chronicle. (2010). Adlai seen as alternative to Rice and Corn Archives Issue. Vol. II No. 7.
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Dela Cruz, R. T (2011). Champion Crop of the Subanen Tribe. BAR Chronicle. Vol 12 No. 7
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NABUA, Wilson C; PANTALLANO, Erlinda S. VARIETAL PERFORMANCE OF ADLAI
(Coix lacryma-jobi L.). NMSCSTResearchJournal, [S.l.], v. 3, n. 1, jan. 2017. ISSN 2362-
9096. Available at: <http://www.nmsc.edu.ph/ojs/index.php/nrj/article/view/45>. Date
accessed: 30 apr. 2017
Rice-adlai, new blend for the palate – Philippine Rice Research Institute. Retrieved from:
http://www.philrice.gov.ph/rice-adlai-new-blend-palate/
Sarmiento, B. (2012) Adlai Instead Of Rice. Available at: http://www.mindanews.com/top-
stories/2012/03/04/adlai-instead-of-rice-anyone/
Santos, F. M. (2012). Agriculture Tests Viability of Adlai in Zambo.
http://www.pna.gov.phndex.php?idn=13&;sid=&nid=13&rid=41956
what is adlai? - DA Region 10 – Department of Agriculture. Retrieved
from:http://cagayandeoro.da.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/WHAT-IS-ADLAI.pdf