The Department of Agriculture (DA) will have to focus programs on the commercialization of rice seed production in the country by 2017.
This was according to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol during the inauguration of a modern rice seed processing facility at the Philippine Rice Research Institute on December 6, 2016.
Piñol likewise stressed the importance of good breeding materials in achieving the food sufficiency.
“Good genetics and good farm management are two factors the DA needs to focus on to be able to synch our strategies with the vision of the President towards affordable and accessible food for every Filipino,” he said.
He noted that the government will have to improve rice productivity thru the expansion of rice farmlands by at least one million hectare next year.
“To be able to achieve that dream, we have to provide more good seeds for farmers,” Piñol added.
Piñol, together with PhilRice acting executive director Dr. Sailila E. Abdula, led the inauguration of the $4-million processing facility funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) thru the “Enhancing the Capacity of Production and Distribution of High Quality Rice Seeds” program.
The initiative includes the establishment of the facility, providing of equipment, and trainings for the personnel.
The 1,000m3 facility aims to lessen the processing time and certification process for rice seeds. The structure also aims to encourage farmers to use high-quality seeds.
“By using the right seeds, a ten percent increase on farmers’ rice yield every year is possible,” Piñol noted.
The facility is composed of two recirculating dryers and two reversible dryers, which can dry 6 and 4 tons seeds per batch, respectively. It also has two seed cleaners and a gravity separator for sorting seeds with a capacity of two tons per hour. It has a cold room, an office, and a generator room.
Piñol seeks to set up the same concept of facility in other rice producing areas in the country such as Davao and Soccsksargen region. ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)
