PhilRice: 95% rice sufficiency by 2028 possible

The Philippines can achieve 95 percent rice sufficiency by 2028 through the use of both hybrid and inbred varieties of palay, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) said yesterday.

- BELLA CARIASO

PhilRice deputy executive director for special concerns Flordeliza Bordey backed the statement of National Irrigation Administration head Eduardo Guillen's claim that the Philippines can achieve rice sufficiency in 2028 as palay production is expected to go up this year despite the El Niño.

Bordey said that PhilRice will provide the seeds and technology while the National Rice Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) helps through the production of seeds and support services.

Hybrid seeds will be distributed to at least 30 to 40 percent of the major rice-producing areas and 60 percent will use inbred seeds.