Called RP-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PSCA), the project is being funded by a $5-million grant from the People’s Republic of China (PROC) plus a $2-million counterpart fund by the Philippine government. The project was formally launched by Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor in ceremonies here Thursday.
In his speech, Montemayor stressed that the center, which is envisioned to be the core storage of modern agricultural technologies geared at increasing land and labor productivity, "will dramatize and concretize the technical cooperation of the Philippine government and that of the PROC in an area much appreciated by the Filipinos," referring to agriculture modernization.
He said the center will focus on the production of seeds of hybrid rice and in agricultural mechanization meant to accelerate agriculture modernization in the country.
The agriculture secretary lauded the Chinese government for building another "Wonder of the World" - agricultural revolution - apart from the so-called "Great Wall of China," noting that the PROC can feed its huge population with its own resources.
PROC Ambassador to the Philippines Wang Chungui said during a brief speech said that a closer relationship between the two countries has been established and "political relationship has been stabilized" with the PSCAT.
He noted that China today is self-sufficient in food for its 1.3 billion people. He added that his country is now exporting rice, which was made possible by its use of hybrid seeds which harvest 12 tons (240 cavans) a hectare.
Chungui recalled that there was a time when his country was being predicted to encounter rough sailing in feeding its burgeoning population. "But now, the doomsayers were proven wrong because we are now self-sufficient in food," he said.
Dr. Rodolfo Undan, CLSU president, said the PSCAT’s three-story building and other facilities, will rise in a 6,000-square meter area with the rest of the 10-hectare area to be used in applying advanced and practical technologies in increasing rice production.