The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), in coordination with the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office I (DA-RFO I), recently distributed 10kg of Golden Rice seeds to three (3) seed growers from Urdaneta and Manaoag, Pangasinan.
Distribution of the GR seeds was held at the Bureau of Plant Industry – National Seed Quality Control Services (BPI-NSQCS) office in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan on July 5, 2022 with the presence of Mr. Ruel Gesmundo, Chief of BPI-NSQCS Central Office; Dr. Benito Andaya of BPI-NSQCS Region I Head, Ms. Florence Tolentino of PhilRice, and Ms. Analiza Ramos of the DA-RFO I.
Also present from the Local Government Unit (LGU) were Municipal Agriculturist of Manaoag, Pangasinan and City Agriculturist of Urdaneta City, and Mr. Elueterio Saoi of OPAG-Pangasinan.
The first batch of GR seeds which was released last June 24, 2022 in Pangasinan was also sowed on the same day in the municipalities of Mangatarem, Aguilar, and Balungao.
10kg of golden rice seed is allocated to six (6) seed growers with .5 hectare land, totaling a 3-hectare on-farm production in Pangasinan.
The Golden Rice Project aims to reduce the incidence of Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) among individuals, especially children in the locality.
In a previews meeting convened by DA-PhilRice with partner agencies/institutions for the deployment of Golden Rice seeds in Ilocos Region, former PhilRice Director Dr. Santiago R. Obien explained that localities with recorded high incidence of Vitamin A deficiency among its population will primarily be the recipients of the Golden Rice to be produced and not yet for commercial purposes/distribution. ###
