Guidelines on the Distribution of Organic Rice Seeds

May 10, 2013

DA ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 020-13

 

In support to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10068, otherwise known as the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, and Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 7308 known as the Seed Industry Development Act of 1992, the following guidelines are issued.

PART I

General Framework

SECTION 1. Objective and Scope. —

This Administrative Order is issued to ensure the effective distribution and quality of organic rice seeds of landrace, traditional, heirloom and PSB/NSIC approved rice varieties produced nationwide under the project of the Bureau of Plant Industry.

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. —

1. Accredited Organic Rice Seed Growers shall refer to rice seed growers complying with existing and applicable guidelines promulgated by the Department of Agriculture on the production of seeds, accredited by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and certified by organic certifying bodies. TESDcA

2. Certified Organic Rice Seeds shall refer to progeny of Foundation or Registered Seeds produced by accredited organic rice seed growers.

3. Good Seeds shall mean seed that may be produced from varieties not yet approved by the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) and meeting the standards prescribed by the certifying agency. Any class of certified seed, in case it does not conform with the NSIC corresponding standards, may qualify as good seed.

4. High Quality Organic Rice Seeds shall refer to Certified Seeds and Good Quality Inbred seeds.

5. Organic Rice Seeds shall refer to crop seeds produced under organic agriculture management.

6. Organic Rice Seed Production Network shall refer to Accredited Organic Rice Seed Growers from the public and private sector.

7. Non-accredited organic rice seed growers shall refer to rice growers certified by organic agriculture certifying bodies but not by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

8. Seed testing shall mean the accurate and prompt analysis of a seed sample to determine its quality based on procedures and standards approved by ISTA and sanctioned by NSIC. AcHCED

9. Seed certification shall mean a system of seed production geared towards maintaining the genetic identity, varietal purity and standards of quality seed of superior crop varieties.

SECTION 3. General Provisions. —

1. The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) shall tap the Organic Rice Seed Production Network to produce organic rice seeds. Collaboration with non-accredited organic rice seed growers shall only occur if the number of Accredited Organic Rice Seed Growers is insufficient to deliver the target production. The partnership will exist under a public-private framework encouraging agricultural innovation motivated by an interactive exchange of knowledge and technologies.

2. Seeds produced under the project are intended to be multiplied further by organic farmers, preferably accredited organic rice seed growers, and shall serve as "starter seeds" for the production of High Quality Seeds. aICcHA

3. The National Seed Coordinator, who also acts as the BPI Focal Person for Organic Agriculture, shall oversee the production and distribution of organic rice seed in collaboration with the DA Regional Field Unit (DA RFU) through the DA RFU Focal Person for Organic Agriculture. The DA RFU Organic Agriculture Focal Person shall take the lead in the distribution of organic rice seeds. He/She shall be supported by the Regional Seed Coordinator.

4. Recipients shall preferably come from farmers' organization engaged in organic agriculture and in-conversion stage. Recipients shall give the same seed quantity for free to another organic farmer.

SECTION 4. Identification of Beneficiary. —

1. It is understood that DA RFU has gathered benchmark data profiling organic agriculture practitioners to facilitate beneficiary identification.

2. The DA RFU, through its Organic Agriculture (OA) Focal Person or his deputy and Regional Seed Coordinator in collaboration with Local Government Units, shall identify beneficiaries who are either organic farmer-groups individual organic farmers.

3. The DA RFU shall submit a master list of intended organic rice seed beneficiaries to the BPI Director through the National Seed Coordinator indicating names, location of farms, quantity, variety, and class of seeds to be distributed.

SECTION 5. Seed Certification and Testing. —

1. Seed certification or seeds testing shall be conducted prior to seed distribution to ensure superior seed quality.

2. The BPI-National Seed Quality Control Services (NSQCS) shall conduct seed certification of PSB/NSIC-approved rice varieties produced by accredited organic seed growers.

3. Seed testing shall be done on traditional, landraces and heirloom rice varieties and organic rice seeds produced by accredited and non-accredited organic rice seed growers.

4. BPI-NSQCS shall conduct seed testing of organic rice seeds that are not distributed three months after the first test and monthly testing thereafter. aIcTCS

5. The following seed standards shall be followed in seed certification of PSB/NSIC approved rice varieties.

	Factors	Breeder	Foundation	Registered	Certified
		Seed	Seed	Seed	Seed
Pure seed (min.) %	99	99	98	98
Weed & other crop seed	0	0	0.04	0.04
(max.) %
Inert matter (max.) %	1	1	2	2
Other varieties grains/500g	0	2	5	20
(max.)
Germination (min.) * %	85	85	85	85
Moisture content (max.) %	14	14	14	14
*	based on pure seed only

6. The following seed standards for Good Seeds shall be followed in seed testing of landrace, traditional, heirloom and other certified organic rice seeds. SDHETI

	Factors	Good Seed
Pure seed (min.) %	98
Weed & other crop seed (max.) %	0.04
Inert matter (max.) %	2
Germination (min.) * %	85
Moisture content (max.) %	14
*	based on pure seed only

 

SECTION 6. Seed Distribution. —

1. The DA RFU Focal Person in Organic Agriculture shall be assisted by the Regional Seed Coordinator in the distribution of organic starter seeds.

2. Project collaborators (i.e., organic rice seed grower from the private sector/accredited organic seed grower) may be authorized by the DA RFU in the distribution of organic rice seeds to the identified beneficiaries consistent to these guidelines.

3. The DA RFU shall submit a list of ACTUAL RECIPIENTS of organic rice seed to the BPI Director through the National Seed Coordinator indicating names, location of farms, quantity, variety, and class of seeds distributed. HScaCT

SECTION 7. Monitoring of Distribution. —

1. The DA RFU, through the Regional Seed Coordinator, shall be responsible in monitoring the distribution at the regional level. He shall implement and maintain appropriate monitoring system for the production areas, expected date of harvest, actual production and stock inventory.

2. The name of the organic farmer beneficiary, location of production area, variety received, number of kilograms received and signature of recipient shall be documented. One copy of this document bearing the signature of DA RFU Organic Agriculture Focal Person, Regional Seed Coordinator, and Regional Executive Director shall be transmitted to the BPI for monitoring purposes. acTDCI

SECTION 8. Handling of Undistributed Organic Rice Seeds. —

1. Upon its discretion, the DA RFU may set aside a portion of the organic seeds as its buffer stock following existing guidelines on buffer stocking (DA Memorandum Order No. 17, S. 2011; AO No. 6, s. 2012).

2. Three (3) months after the first seed test, undistributed seeds shall further undergo monthly seed testing for germination. Rice seeds with germination rate below 85 per cent shall NOT be maintained as buffer stock nor distributed as seeds. Subsequent handling or disposal shall comply with existing guidelines. HSIDTE

This order shall take effect immediately.

(SGD.) PROCESO J. ALCALASecretary