Strengthening Palay Seed Systems in Southern

Tagalog and Bicol Regions

Jose E. Hernandez Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Professorial Chair Lecture

29 November 2013

Presentation Outline

I. Introduction II. Program Framework III. Rice Programs IV. Objectives and Methodology V. Policies Governing Palay Seed System a. Formal seed system b. Informal seed system VI. Seed Supply Situation in Study Sites VII. Problems/Constraints/Issues VIII. Recommendations IX. Acknowledgement

Fig 1. CRDES Program framework

In Search of Rice Self Sufficiency

1. Masagana 99 (bountiful harvest) 1973-1986 2. Rice Productivity Enhancement Program (RPEP) 3. Rice Action Program (RAP) 4. Grains Production Enhancement Program (GPEP) 5. Gintong Ani Program (GAP) 6. Agrikulturang Makamasa 7. Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) (2007-2010) 8. Agri- Pinoy (2011-2016)

FIELDS (2007-2010)

F bio-fertilizer performance and feasibility of community-based composting

I extent of irrigation facilities repair and rehabilitation

E assessment of the extension and education services for farmers

L assessment of loans’ effectiveness delivery system

D effectiveness of dryers and post harvest system

S provision of seeds and improve seed system

Objectives

Assess rice seed systems in Camarines Sur and Albay in Region 5, Quezon in Region 4A and Oriental Mindoro in Region 4B

Recommend solutions to strengthen seed systems in the two regions

Methodology

1. Rapid Rural Appraisal during the first 6 months of the project

2. Key Informant Interviews (representatives of OPAG,MAO, Seed Coordinators, Seed Producers, DA-RFUs , Farmers, NFA)

3. Focus Group Discussions 4. Secondary data were gathered from various reports 5. Trainings on entreprenuership and seed certification 6. Palay Seed System Study 7. Roundtable discussions and workshops

Policies Governing Palay Seed System

1. RA No. 7308 –Seed Industry development Act (1992)

2. RA No. 9168-Plant Variety Protection Act 2002

3. RA 7607-Magna Carta of Small Farmers (1992). Sect 16. Use of good seeds and planting materials - farmer has equal opportunity to avail of produce and to market good seeds and planting materials

4. M.O. No. 20. Guidelines on the Implementation of

Community-Based Seed Banks(CSBs)(2011)

Formal Seed System

covers seed production and organized dissemination of quality seeds of improved varieties developed by formal breeding programs (private and government)

monitored by government policies and regulations.

Flow of genetic materials from breeding institutions to release by the National Seed Industry Council

PROMISING LINES IRRI, PHILRICE, UPLB, Private Companies

NATIONAL RICE COOPERATIVE TESTING PROGRAM (Phase 1 and Phase 2)

PHILRICE, UPLB, IRRI, SCU’s DA

RICE VARIETAL IMPROVEMENT GROUP (Technical Working Group) Evaluates NCT Results

TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT Recommending Group

NATIONAL SEED INDUSTRY COUNCIL Approving Body

FARMERS

Varieties ,certification by SQCS

Inbred Hybrid

Breeder seed (White tag)

F1 A-line X R-line

Breeder Seed

Foundation Seed

Registered Seed

Certified Seed

)

A R B

R A B

A-line R-line

Commercial Rice (F2 Seed)

Farmer

Foundation seed (Red tag)

Rice growers

Registered seed (Green tag)

Certified seed (Blue tag)

Farmer seed

Good seed

Fig. Simplified inbred and hybrid (based on CMS system)seed production.

Informal Seed System

covers methods of local seed selection, production, and diffusion

farmers, NGOs produce, disseminate and access seeds directly from their own harvests or through exchange or barter

rarely monitored by government policies and regulations

Informal Seed System

Community-based Seed Bank (CSB)- extension tool to increase farmer’s access to quality seeds, controlled and operated by farmers within the community which encourage seed production and exchange among farmers within and outside the community and between farmers and breeding institutions for greater diversity

HIGHLIGHTS OF RESULTS

CAMARINES SUR

Total estimated rice area (Ha) 75,500 Percent area irrigated 72 Accredited SP area (Ha) 1,020 No of seed inspectors 13 CS production as of 6/2010 46,668 RS production as of 6/2010 3,313 No. of accredited SP 169 CS/RS Exported None CS/RS Imported None Perceived supply status Sufficient to surplus

Rice Production and Seed Supply Situation

ALBAY

Total estimated rice area (Ha) 25,495 Percent area irrigated 76 No. of seed inspectors 8 Accredited SP area (Ha) 300 CS production as of 6/2010 28,912 RS production as of 6/2010 1,420 No. of accredited Seed Prod 60 CS/RS Exported (bags) 5,000 CS/RS Imported None Perceived supply status Sufficient to Surplus

Rice Production and Seed Supply Situation

QUEZON Total estimated rice area (Ha) 33,555 Percent area irrigated 58 Acccredited SP area(Ha) 46.0 No of seed inspectors 5 Total seed prod. Area (ha) 82 CS production as of 6/2010 1,426 RS production as of 6/2010 350 No. of accredited SP 13 CS/RS Exported (bags) None CS/RS Imported (bags) 2,652 Perceived supply status Deficit

Rice Production and Seed Supply Situation

ORIENTAL MINDORO

Total estimated rice area (Ha) 48,838 Percent area irrigated 51 No. of seed inspectors 11 Accredited SP area (Ha) 1,352 CS production as of 11/2009 33,210 RS production as of 6/2010 ---- No. of accredited SP 145 CS/RS Exported --- CS/RS Imported None Perceived supply status Sufficient to surplus

Rice Production and Seed Supply Situation

Province Cost (P) Net Returns (P) Camarines Sur 30,000 – 60,000 36,000 – 85,000 Albay 60,000 36,000 – 60,000 Quezon 40,000 32,000 - 50,000 Oriental Mindoro 41,100 54,900 – 78,900

Table . Cost and returns in seed production, per ha.

Seed Supply Situation

Albay, Camarines Sur and Oriental Mindoro reported sufficient to surplus seed production

Quezon has deficit production, with insufficient accredited production area and SPs

Except Quezon, the rest have substantial accredited seed production area and accredited number of seed producers

~90% of production in all provinces is channeled to national and local seed procurement/dispersal program

Rice Seed Supply Situation

Except Quezon, all 3 provinces have organized SP coop /org’n.

SP, LGU, RFU, SQCS maintain working coordination in relation government seed requirements/availability

DA-RFU runs the regular seed procurement/dispersal program under the 50-50 scheme implemented thru LGUs

in 2010,NFA runs a parallel program of subsidized seed dispersal thru the IFAD fund

Known as Rapid Seed Supply Financing Project (RASSFiP) using the government 50:50 scheme

Rice Seed Supply Situation

SPs in all provinces are technically capable/well trained in seed production

Average production per hectare: 80-100 cav/ha (and as high as 120 cav/ha)

SPs: very small/unsustainable private market of CS should DA discontinue the seed subsidy program

Seed Inspectors: heavy workload but still capable of required field seed inspection work

Rice Seed Supply Situation

In sum: Albay, Camarines Sur and Oriental Mindoro are self sufficient to surplus in tagged seeds Quezon has deficit with many SP are inactive.

Rice Seed Supply Situation

In sum: - Government is the primary market for CS - Private seed market (unsubsidized) is insignificant Farmers do not buy seeds regularly and even reluctant to pay at the subsidized price In all provinces, SPs are technically capable

Problems/Constraints/Issues

Seed Producers’:

- Difficulty in sourcing FS/RS of preferred varieties / newly released varieties.

- Often PhilRice/Seednet do not have the preferred varieties. Hence, mismatch often happens since SP plants whatever RS variety they can acquire.

- Local seednet usually does not have preferred variety or can not supply the RS requirement of SPs

- Lack of sustained information drive to popularize the regular use of CS among farmers

Problems/Constraints/Issues

Seed Producers’:

- Very small private seed market

- Need for market development/support/schemes

- Need to train additional/replacement SI’s and SP

- Immediate location trial of newly recommended varieties for local adaptability

- Regulate selling/distribution of FS to none SP and ordinary farmers

Problems/Constraints/Issues

Seed Inspectors/RFU/LGUs: - Very limited travel allowance for field inspection work - Additional workload on top of seed inspection and

certification responsibilities - Re-assignment of SIs to other duties / lesser priority on

agriculture/ rice production

Problems/Constraints/Issues

Farmers / CS Users:

- Expensive at current price of P1,200.00 - Price should not differ very much from commercial rice

-Need to consider preference for direct seeding which uses

higher amount of seed.

Recommendations Encourage SP to market CS within their area

Revitalize/re-activate Seednets organized by PhilRice

Activate RIARCs to identify locally adapted varieties

Immediate dispersal of FS of newly-developed varieties

Avoid distributing newly developed varieties to non-seed producers?

Revisit price of tagged seeds to make it affordable

Explore the possible role of SUCs in seed certification and informal seed system

Need for market development/support/schemes for SP Sharing, synchronization, harmonization of Seed Stock

inventory data among, OPAg, NSQCS, SP

Buffer stock of appropriate varieties in the Region/Province to respond to calamities

Encourage complementation of formal and informal seed

system

Recommendations

Need to fastract/hasten implementation of CSBs in Southern

Tagalog and Bicol Regions and the whole country I agree with DA that priority should be given to rainfed,

upland and other marginal areas There is a need to strengthen partnership among

stakeholders to make this initiative sustainable in the future

Recommendations

Seed Security

There should be mechanism that would ensure farmers’ access to appropriate rice varieties, available at the appropriate planting time, affordable price, and of good quality in both normal and crisis situations (Elazegui et al. 2011)

Acknowledgement Dr. Agnes C. Rola, Program Leader, CRDES, CPAf Dr. Jose R. Medina, Ret. Prof, CPC, CA Dr. Merlyne M. Paunlagui, Co-Program Leader, CPAf Prof. Nelson J.V.B. Querijero, CPAf Mr. Danilo J. Lalican, CSC, CA Dr. Pompe Sta Cruz, CSC, CA Ms. Dulce D. Elazegui, CPAf Ms. Agnes R. Chupungco, CPAf Ms. Elvira E. Dumayas, CPAf Mr. Sancho Bon, CSC, CA Dr. Hospicio Natural Dr. Miriam R. Nguyen, CPAf Ms. Maren Umali

Thank you!