Administrative Order No. 09 Series of 2021 Local Hybrid Seed Production Policy

1898 Republic of the Philippines OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Elliptical Road, Diliman 1100 Quezon City Administrative Order No. O Q Series of 2021 SUBJECT : LOCAL HYBRID RICE SEED PRODUCTION POLICY Whereas, the Twelve (12) Strategies of One DA approach of the Department of Agriculture, which aims to achieve the twin goals of "Masaganang Ani, Mataas na Kita", highlights improving of farmers and fisherfolks' productivity and income vital in sustaining and developing local agriculture industries;Whereas, achieving these goals in the rice industry entails use of high yielding technologies which improves farm efficiency, and increases production and farm income;Whereas, the frontrunner in high yielding technologies in rice production is the use of hybrid varieties, which yields more compared to other rice varieties, making hybrid rice a major component in the government's strategy in increasing production given the country’s limited land area planted to rice;Whereas, the increased target for hybrid rice production requires parallel efforts to cope with the ballooning seed requirement;Whereas, most hybrid varieties available in the market were bred outside the Philippines specifically, China and India; andWhereas, developing the local hybrid rice seed production industry to produce seeds domestically will provide for job opportunities and contribute to the country’s economy; now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the Department of Agriculture, through this administrative order, implements a policy on local hybrid rice seed production that would provide a venue for local breeding of varieties suitable for the country's agro-climatic conditions and produce hybrid rice seeds domestically, to wit: A. Hybrid Seed PolicyAll hybrid rice seed developers and distributors are encouraged to establish local seed production reseach and operational capabilities to provide job opportunities and contribute to the country's economy.Both the private sector and government will regularly assess and develop plans on how to increase local seed production with the following seed source shift schedule in Table 1. food-secure and'resident Tfiilippines C.— --------------------------------------------------—/ wild prosperous and empoweredfarmers artcfptmerfofli miaqammq Afc| lUalautna kjV,s Table 1. Period for seed source shift schedule to local production based on aggregatetotal for all seed distributors. Year Seed Source 2021 90% imported, 10% locally produced 2022 80% imported, 20% locally produced 2023 70% imported, 30% locally produced 2024 60% imported, 40% locally produced 2025 40% imported, 60% locally produced 2026 20% imported, 80% locally produced As an incentive, those companies that meet the above local seed production targets will be prioritized in the DA Hybrid Rice Program. Seed companies that do not meet the above local seed production target may be considered only if the compliant companies do not have enough seed stock.However, importation of hybrid seeds may be allowed if the local production is not enough to ensure timely and sufficient seed supply for farmers every cropping season. Key consideration for seed imports include seed yield output and competitivenes, adequate area and infrastructure, agroclimatic conditions, accelerated hybrid adoption, and natural calamities such as typhoons, droughts, and severe pest infestation in production areas. B. ObjectivesThe main objective of the policy is to develop an environment promoting local production of hybrid seeds and gradually increase the share of locally-produced seeds in the market until most of the hybrid rice seeds in the Philippines are locally-produced.Specifically, this policy aims to:1. 2. Provide venue to determine and address the constraints and gaps limiting the local seed production of hybrid rice in the Philippines;Develop a sound economic environment for hybrid seed production investment; and ^ d ^ ^ ^ cfo o d -se cxire a n d resident Tfddjrpines ■with prosperous and empowered farmers andfisfierfoCk 3. Develop venues for collaboration and networking between the private sectors and the government towards strengthening the local hybrid seed industry. C. ScopeThis policy applies to all entities who intend to produce and offer hybrid rice seeds in the Philippines. D. Support ActivitiesIn order to carry out this policy, industry-wide support shall be provided to create an enabling environment for local hybrid seed production, as follows:1. Investment Incentives. To encourage private sector investment for local seed production, incentive schemes shall be developed like economic zoning of the production area, and provision of tax shields for procuring the needed machinery and tax holidays to the seed production facility for a minimum of 5 years. The policy will be sustained to the priority provinces for hybrid rice production targetting the irrigated and favorable rain-fed lowland areas. In addition, locally produced seeds shall be prioritized for government procurement. 2. Area Development Location is vital in seed production. Aside from suitability to agro-climatic condition, social acceptance and infrastructure availability also play a key role in identification of production areas. Preparedness of the community to accept and participate in seed production endeavors shall be conducted thru social preparation. Capacitation of the identified production areas shall likewise be undertaken to include irrigation and infrastructure development, among others.3. Crop Credit and Insurance. Provision of credit windows for hybrid seed production and inclusion of insurance coverage in PC1C programs. 4. Seed Testing Facilities. Seed certification for hybrid rice seeds and capacitation of regulatory agency to provide modern system of seed testing and certification. E. Creation of Technical Working GroupA Technical Working Group (TWG) from the concerned offices, units, agencies, and other relevant parties shall be organized to facilitate the proper execution of this Administrative Order. They shall be responsible for drafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations (1RR) for this Administrative Order. uipvin’oocC-secure ancCresident Thidppmes witfiprosperous and empowered farmers andfisherfoCk tfaiogananq A N i <^aia^na F. Penalty ClauseIf any of the provisions stipulated in this Administrative Order will be violated, sanctions shall be imposed to the involved party. Those sanctions will be detailed in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of this Administrative Order, G. Repealing and Separability ClauseAll other existing issuances or any part thereof that are inconsistent with this Administrative Order are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. If any part or provision of this Administrative Order is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions is not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting. F. EfFectivityThis Administrative Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the completion of its signing and publication in a general circulation in the Philippines and shall remain enforced unless revoked or superseded by other issuances. Done this day of j 2021. WILLIAM D. DAR, Ph.D. Secretary &<' DEPARTMENT OF AORICULTUREiNNiiniiiiiiiiiiNniiiiiinMiiiiiiiNiini in riplylng pH elt« thl» codt For Signature: S-02-21 -0560 R t c d V 'd 02/22/2021 0 4 :1! PM JA foocC-secure a n d resident Tfxidpjpines with prosperous and empowered farmers andfisderfoCk