SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ — Despite the challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the country’s primary agency in rice technology, continues to serve the Filipino rice farmers by providing easy access to high-quality seeds in their communities.
Dr. Flordeliza Bordey, PhilRice deputy executive director, said their agency maintains that their part in the implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed Program, runs unhampered amid the country’s fight against Covid-19.
“We have to ensure that the supply of rice, being our staple food, is sufficient for every Filipino family,” Borcey said in a news release on Wednesday.
Based on PhilRice records, at least 10,310 bags of certified seeds were delivered to 14 city and municipal local government units as of April 12
These will be distributed to farmers through a special protocol soon, the report said.
PhilRice started delivering seeds to early-planting cities and municipalities across the country for 2020 wet season since March 16.
Rice farmers in North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Antique, Iloilo, Leyte, Pampanga, Bataan, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Zamboanga del Sur are expected to receive their high-quality seeds until the end of April. Schedule of seed deliveries is based on planting calendar of the rice areas.
Bordey encouraged farmer-recipients to coordinate with their LGUs through the city/municipal agriculture office for the process and final schedule.
In claiming the provision from the RCEF program, farmers are required to wear face mask, monitor body temperature, use hand sanitizers, and practice physical distancing to ensure the health and safety of the farmers and involved staff and stakeholders.
PhilRice, based in Barangay Maligaya here, is an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture.
DA-PhilRice, together with its partners from the DA-Regional Field Offices, and LGUs target to distribute 2.5 million bags of certified inbred seeds (at 20kg/bag) to over 1.2 million farmers this season.
