President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is planning to tap state universities and college (SUC) graduates to bolster local production of agricultural seeds.
By involving agricultural SUC graduates in seed production, Marcos Jr. said farmers could focus on growing the seedlings.
“The farmers can take care of the actual growing of seedlings. These new agronomists, agriculturists can be [the] ones doing seed production,” he said during the 8th meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council–Agriculture Sector in Malacañang on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
The President also urged relevant government agencies to work with SUCs in guiding students toward careers in seed production.
SUCs should focus on research and development, rather than crop production, according to Marcos Jr.
“Let’s not lead the growing anymore to the SUCs. They shouldn’t be in crop production. They should be in research and development. I think that’s the way that we can structure it,” he also said.
The Chief Executive said SUCs have the technical expertise for seed production but need to scale up to commercial levels.
“If we help them along, they’ll do it. Kikita pa ‘yung university.”IMT
