PRESIDENT Miriam E. Pascua and other SUC presidents in the country signed on July 31 a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Agriculture for a DA-SUC partnership project on mass production of high quality seeds (HQS).

As National University of Agriculture, MMSU was selected, together with 109 other member institutions of the National Agriculture and Fisheries Education System, to implement the program in support to DA’s National Year of Rice program.

The project aims to mobilize selected SUCs as effective DA partners in the production of HQS for massive rice production and utilization demonstration by clusters of farmers to increase rice harvests in strategic areas.

The university was selected considering its available manpower and land area to be utilized in the production of HQS and in the promotion of modern rice technologies to farmers in accordance with the Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP). The FSSP  which ensures the adoption of suitable high quality seeds and increased use of fertilizers and other integrated crop management practices.

The agriculture department will provide MMSU financial inputs amounting to P50,000 per hectare as well as necessary trainings and technical assistance to effectively implement the various program components and stages. The CAFSD has been tasked to spearhead the program  in coordination with the Extension Directorate.

A two-hectare area has been set apart by the university for this purpose. A present, a rice variety, NSIC Rc 218, is being planted in the area. Also, Mr. Eugene D. Ramos, Seed Production and Demonstration Project in-charge, has been scheduled to attend a training on Inbred Rice Seed Production to be conducted by the National Seed Quality Control Services.