Infographics by: Allan C. Biwang Jr., Charisma Love B. Gado-Gonzales, and Perry Irish H. Duran Subject Matter Specialists: Dr. Flordeliza H. Bordey, Teodora L. Briones, and Dr. Glenn Y. Ilar Rice seed production is a tedious process that starts with variety development, which usually takes 5-12 years. After the varieties are approved for commercial release by the National Seed Industry Council, the seeds are multiplied for the farmers to plant. Easy access to, and availability of inbred certified seeds in every locality help increase farmers' adoption of high-quality seeds. To guarantee that farmers only receive or buy seeds that pass quality standards, DA-PhilRice, other breeding institutions, and the accredited seed grower cooperatives/associations (SGC/As) comply with the seed certification process of the Bureau of Plant Industry – National Seed Quality Control Services (BPI-NSQCS). This comprises the formal seed system. For the seeds to be called high-quality, they must record a minimum of 98% purity; 14% moisture content; almost no mixtures, weeds, and other seeds (maximum of 0.04%); contain a tolerable 2% inert matter such as soil and stone fragments; and a germination rate of at least 85%. Grains of mixed varieties must not also exceed the maximum limit for each seed class. Breeding institutions usually produce the breeder and foundation seeds that are used to produce registered seeds. Seed growers commonly buy registered seeds from DA-PhilRice or other DA-accredited SeedNet members to produce the certified seeds usually bought by farmers.
BREEDER SEEDS
FOUNDATION BREEDER SEEDS
REGISTERED BREEDER SEEDS
CERTIFIED BREEDER SEEDS
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PHILRICE MAGAZINE | JUL-SEP 2021
*Breeder and Foundation Seeds may be downgraded to registered or certified seeds if certification standards based on seed class are not met.
