The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) has inaugurated a National Seed Reserve in Quezon City, which aims to aid in crop production and recovery efforts following natural disasters.
The facility, which is solar-powered, has the capacity to store nearly 9,000 bags of seed, helping to preserve their quality. It was inaugurated by Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. and BPI Director Gerald Glenn F. Panganiban.
The reserve will be released to support farmers in replanting quickly and aid in the recovery of food production, as well as strengthen agricultural resiliency in the face of typhoons, drought, and other climate-driven disruptions.
BPI is hoping to open more seed reserves in its National Crop Research, Development, and Production Support Centers in Baguio City, Los Baños, Laguna; Guimaras; La Carlota, Negros Occidental; and Davao City.
The Department of Agriculture is providing the BPI with a significant amount of funding to establish more reserves, with P250 million allocated for this year and increasing to P300 million by next year.
