NFA earmarks P12M to buy certified seeds
The National Food Authority (NFA), under the Rapid Seed Supply Financing Project (RaSSFiP) Extension Phase , has earmarked P12 million to buy certified seeds from growers in Iloilo and Guimaras provinces.
NFA Iloilo Manager Hedy Jardeleza, who also oversees Guimaras province, said under the RaSSFiP, their agency is tasked to purchase certified seeds from local growers and distribute it to farmers identified in the master list submitted to them by the Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAO).
The distribution was formerly done by the Department of Agriculture through the Provincial Agriculture Officers and the MAOs.
The certified seeds, however, are still being distributed by the NFA in a subsidized form. This means that the NFA using the P12-million budget would buy the certified seeds from growers in the amount of P1,200 per bag and sell it to farmers for only P600 per bag. The remaining P600 will be absorbed by the government.
Jardeleza said growers who want to sell their certified seeds to the NFA can coordinate with their local government units or their MAOs.*PNA
