P200 million seed tech park to rise

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture will establish a P200-million national seed technology park as part of efforts to increase the farm sector’s productivity.

During the National Seed Summit, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said available and accessible good quality and certified seeds are important in increasing the country’s agricultural production.

“We have been doing research all these years. However, if we compare our total factor productivity with other ASEAN countries, we are there at the middle. This means that majority of the appropriate or relevant outputs of research have yet to reach the grass roots level,” Dar said.

The national seed technology park will gather key players in the seed industry in an area of at least 50 hectares.

“We will invite all the key players in the seed industry, be it private, multinational, or local. This will be in one area, maybe national center in Luzon with branches in Visayas and Mindanao,” Dar said.

“They can set up not only research there, but even facilities for drying, processing, and packaging. Complete value chain, that’s the whole idea,” he said.

The project will be supported by the Bureau of Plant Industry, National Seed Industry Council, and the Philippine Seed Industry Association Inc., among others.

Inspired by the Andhra Pradesh State Mega Seed Park in India, Dar considers the seed technology park to be a business proposition or an inclusive agribusiness opportunity that is not limited to research or educational purposes only.

With ongoing talks with potential partners, Pinol said he would set aside P200 million in funds to kickstart the project next year.

The establishment of a national seed technology park is part of the DA’s initiative to develop the agriculture sector, particularly the crops sub-sector.