DA opens National Seed Reserve Facility to bolster food security

The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), on Thursday inaugurated the National Seed Reserve Facility, a centralized storage hub that will serve as a long-term repository for high-quality seeds to ensure a reliable supply of planting materials for regular crop production and post-disaster recovery.

Located within the BPI compound in Quezon City, the facility was converted from an old warehouse that the agency refurbished and expanded.

"The BPI scrounged up its savings to rebuild and expand this facility," Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said during the inauguration.

Photo: Department of Agriculture

Tiu Laurel said the DA has allocated P250 million this year to establish additional seed reserve facilities across the country.

BPI Director Glenn Panganiban said the budget will fund the construction of seed reserve facilities in five key centers: Baguio, Los Baños, Guimaras, La Granja, and Davao.

The Quezon City facility is powered by solar energy and will also provide secure seed storage services to partner government agencies and institutions, helping safeguard the country's agricultural resources against disruptions caused by natural disasters and other emergencies.

"In the face of stronger typhoons, prolonged droughts, and other climate-driven disruptions, having a dependable reserve of quality seeds means we can help farmers replant quickly, restore food production faster, and strengthen the resilience of our agriculture sector. This facility is about ensuring that food security is never compromised, even during the most challenging times," Tiu Laurel said.

He added that maintaining a secure seed reserve would reduce the risk of planting delays after calamities, enabling agricultural production to recover more quickly and minimizing supply disruptions that could drive up food prices.

"The facility aims to ensure the long-term preservation, quality, and timely availability of seeds for regular planting programs, disaster response, rehabilitation efforts, and other priority government initiatives,” Panganiban said. — VBL, GMA News