SUC land to be used for raising seeds

Fertile lands owned by state universities and colleges (SUCs) would be tapped for raising seeds for high-value crops and increasing farmers' output, President Marcos said yesterday.

- - Bella Cariaso, Alexis Romero

In his speech in Bacolor, Pampanga, Marcos also asked local government units (LGUs) to adopt disaster-mitigating measures to reduce destruction of crops from super typhoons.

The Chief Executive was in Bacolor to distribute certificates of land ownership and certificates of condonation with release of mortgage to nearly 2,500 agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Marcos said tapping unused lands of SUCs for seedling production was part of the recommendation of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC).

"I met with various agencies of the government including the private sector. During the meeting, it was proposed to develop more seedling nurseries in the entire country to boost the production of vegetables and rice," Marcos said.

He said state agencies should seek help from SUCs in directing students' interest towards seed production. With graduates of agricultural SUCs handling seed production, farmers could focus on growing the seedlings, the President said.

"The farmers can take care of the actual growing of seedlings. These new agronomists, agriculturists can be the ones doing seed production," he said at the meeting with PSAC.