The Department of Agriculture—Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI), through the Crop Research and Production Support Division (BPI-CRSPD), in partnership with PhilRice, NSQCS I, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), and DA-CAR, conducted the Basic Training Course on Inbred Rice Seed Production and Certification on June 23-27, 2025, at Davidson Hotel, Tabuk City, Kalinga.
A total of 34 aspiring seed growers from Apayao, Ifugao, and Kalinga attended the training. Its activities were comprised of lectures, practical exercises, and field practicum relative to principles and practices on inbred rice seed production and certification, including entrepreneurship and Marketing of Inbred Rice Seed and Values Reorientation. Technical experts from PhilRice, NSQCS, ATI, and DA-AMAD served as the resource persons on the topics discussed.
Through this training, the participants were equipped with the knowledge and skills from morphology and planting to post-harvest management, emphasizing the principles and best practices under the Palay Check System, including Warehouse and Seed Storage Management. Likewise, mechanics, policies, and guidelines on seed certification and seed grower accreditation were also discussed. Participants experienced hands-on activities on seed germination testing and purity tests. An actual rice field visit was also conducted to allow participants to experience actual field inspection, rouging, pests, and disease identification to ensure the purity and high quality of produced seeds.
As part of improving agricultural services towards digitalization, the RSIS team of PhilRice and NSQCS facilitated the introduction and discussion of the Rice Seed Information System (RSIS). Participants were encouraged to install and explore the Grow App Mobile Application. This application is a tool to facilitate real-time data on the farm activities from planting to seed certification process. This initiative supports the DA-BPI’s mandate to ensure the availability of quality planting materials by enhancing agricultural productivity through capacity-building activities that equip aspiring seed growers with the knowledge and skills needed to produce, utilize, and promote high-quality and high-class rice seeds across the region and the country.
This initiative supports the DA-BPI’s mandate to ensure the availability of quality planting materials by enhancing agricultural productivity through capacity-building activities that equip aspiring seed growers with the knowledge and skills needed to produce, utilize, and promote high-quality and high-class rice seeds across the region and the country.