CERTIFIED INBRED RICE SEEDS. The Department of Agriculture (DA) through its Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) allocates over 76,000 bags of certified inbred seeds to farmers in Bulacan province for distribution this wet season. The distribution is intended to complement and supplement the hybrid rice production strategy of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. under his food security agenda. (PNA file photo)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Department of Agriculture (DA) through its Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) will soon start the distribution of certified inbred seeds to farmers in Bulacan province.
RCEF provincial coordinator Justine Ragos said on Tuesday that over 76,000 bags of certified inbred rice seeds weighing 20 kilos each have been allocated for the province intended for the wet season from April to August, with peak from June to July.
Ragos said among the seed varieties for distribution by DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) are the NSIC Rc 160, Rc 218SR and Rc 222.
Based on actual field studies and demonstrations conducted by PhilRice, certified inbred rice seeds produce higher yields compared to ordinary seeds and can withstand different rice diseases.
“Nakapag-usap na ang DA-PhilRice at mga ka-partner nito sa provincial, city, at municipal agriculture offices para ikasa ang mga plano ng programa para sa mga ka-palay natin (The DA-PhilRice and its partners have already talked with the provincial, city and municipal agriculture offices to lay down the planned programs for our palay farmers),” he said in a statement.
He said the DA-PhilRice is thankful to the local government units in Bulacan for their continuing implementation of the RCEF Seed Program.
The DA-PhilRice will distribute some 4.27 million certified inbred rice seeds nationwide, expanding its program coverage from 42 to 77 provinces within all rice-producing regions in the country.
Jointly funded by the RCEF Seed Program and the DA’s National Rice Program (NRP) with PHP3 billion and PHP700,000, respectively, the certified inbred rice seed distribution is intended to complement and supplement the hybrid rice production strategy of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. under his food security agenda.
Dr. Flordeliza Bordey, director of the RCEF Program Management Office at DA-PhilRice, earlier said the allocation can plant 1.97 million hectares in 1,319 cities and municipalities nationwide covering the 2023 wet – 2024 dry cropping season. (PNA)
