The Department
of Agriculture accelerates the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) by
releasing the P10 billion allotment to implementing agencies.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar said 32 percent, or PHP3.2
billion, is being used for RCEF program activities such as procurement of
high-quality inbred seeds, bidding of farm machines, granting of loans, and
training of rice specialists.
“[RCEF activities] are timely as [it’s generally the
start of rice cropping season]. Now, the program is rolling out and [recently
launched] in Roxas, Isabela. [We’re starting to make] the farmers productive,
competitive, and progressive through the program,” Dar said in a press
conference, Tuesday, at the Agricultural Training Institute in Quezon City.
Under seed component, Dr. Flordeliza Bordey, deputy
executive director for special concerns of Philippine Rice Research Institute,
said about 2 million bags of seeds are procured as of Oct. 18 while more than
2,000 bags of certified seeds are now ready for distribution. The RCEF seed
monitoring system is also in place.
“Seed distribution will peak in November. Planning for
wet season distribution in 2020 and positioning of registered seeds for the dry
season in 2020 are being worked out,” she said.
Technical briefings, a requirement for farmers to receive
seeds, were recently conducted to tillers in regions 1, 2, 3, 4-B, 5, and
12. The first batch of rice specialists
under the program also completed their training last week.
The seed component targets 1.06 million hectare covering
cities and municipalities with more than 100 ha areas planted to rice. Farmers
listed in the Department of Agriculture’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in
Agriculture will be given 20-80 k of high-quality inbred rice seeds depending
on farm size.
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