Philippines, Korea tie up for rice self-sufficiency goal

December 23, 2010

THE Republic of Korea is assisting the Philippines on its goal to attain rice self-sufficiency by 2013 through a scientific and technical cooperation project.

Following a memorandum of agreement signed between Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Rural Development Administration Administrator Min Seung Kyu, Korea established the Korean project for International Agriculture Center at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Central Experiment Station at the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija.

Through the center, Korea will help enhance the capacity of the Philippines in rice research and development and in rice-based production.

To be implemented until 2013, the center will host trainings on rice and rice-based cropping systems and farm mechanization for Filipino researchers, extension officers and farmers.

Korea will also send its experts and scientists to PhilRice while qualified Filipino rice workers will be trained in Korea.

Moreover, both countries will share research materials, publications and technical information on rice and rice-based production.

Other than the Philippines, Korea also extends agricultural assistance to other countries like Vietnam, Myanmar, Uzbekistan and Kenya.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/philippines-korea-tie-rice-self-sufficiency-goal