Hybrid rice gets priority in NFA procurement program

Hybrid rice, particularly the "Mestizo" variety, will be given priority in the palay procurement program of the National Food Authority (NFA).

This is stipulated in a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed recently between NFA and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

Signatories to the agreement were NFA administrator Anthony R.A. Abad, PhilRice Executive Director Leocadio S. Sebastian, and Luis Lorenzo Jr., presidential adviser on Million Jobs Creation and chairman of the PhilRice Board of Trustees (BOT).

The MOA covers the nationwide conduct of technical briefings for farmers and marketing of PSB Rc72H or "Mestizo" and other hybrids, to promote and ensure the utilization and practice of the hybrid rice technology in targeted areas for 2002 to 2004.

The Hybrid Rice Commercialization Program (HRCP) is the flagship program of the Arroyo administration’s "Unlad Ani" chartered to boost national efforts to make the country self-sufficient in rice at the soonest possible time.

At its maiden cropping season (this year’s wet season which began last May), some 50,000 hectares have been programmed to be covered in 56 provinces. In the dry season late this year, 85,000 hectares will be covered, going up to about 200,000 ha in 2003 and 300,000 ha in 2004.

Coordinator for the implementation of the HRCP in PhilRice, which was placed under the Office of the President last March from the Department of Agriculture (DA).

President Arroyo named Lorenzo chairman of the institute’s policymaking body.

The centerpiece of the Hybrid Rice Commercialization Program is the "Mestizo variety", a Philippine hybrid rice named after a river in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Since 1990, rice varieties suited to irrigated lowlands have been named after rivers and those that thrive in the uplands after mountains.

Under the agreement, PhilRice will provide the NFA regional and provincial offices with masterlists of farmers participating in the HRCP through the provincial action teams (PAT) being coordinated by the institute.

It will also coordinate with the NFA the expected volume of "Mestizo" palay to be harvested and procured within each of the participating provinces.

PhilRice will, likewise, monitor problems on postharvest operations, coordinate the conduct of training activities on hybrid rice postharvest management, and through the PATs request the NFA staff’s technical expertise within the regions and provinces as the need arises. Moreover, it will provide NFA with a schedule of technical briefings for its participation.

For its part, NFA will give preference in its palay procurement program to "Mestizo" and other hybrids identified by PhilRice and, where possible, procure hybrid rice produced within the participating provinces.

NFA will also classify "Mestizo" hybrid palay as palay Grade 1 (PGI) provided that the variety meets NFA quality standards.

Moreover, NFA will help conduct hybrid rice technology briefings through its postharvest experts who will provide post-production information and extension activities.

It will further regularly participate in the meetings and discussions of the provincial action teams.