LOS ANGELES, Butuan City – The Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) 13 successfully conducted the training on Varietal Identification for Rice Seed Certification intended for Seed Analysts on November 4-8, 2019.

This is in collaboration with the Bureau of Plant Industry - National Seed Quality Control Services (BPI-NSQCS).

Twenty-eight (28) participants comprising BPI- NSQCS staff from clusters 3 and 4 participated in the said training.

This training aimed at gaining an assurance on the availability of high-quality seeds and planting materials.

Participants were able to experience new techniques of field inspection and thorough grow-out tests which eventually make them more skilled and trained seed analysts.

“During this training, I acquired new information and new experience. The actual training was quite hard, during the identification of varieties but the learning is worthwhile.” Said Arvin S. Areola staff from NSQCS Region XI. He is one of the participants of the training.

Areola added that the training taught him to study and focus more on the morpho-agronomic characteristics of rice and will practice more on the identification of some other varieties.

Moreover, the training was realized for them to be refreshed and updated with the current knowledge and technologies with regards to varietal purity testing and technical capabilities.

Seed analysts play an important role in the implementation of the RCEF the reason why they are being capacitated for a well-heeled production of high-quality seeds and increase farm productivity and income.