Marcos to SUCs: Direct agri students’ focus to seed production

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called on State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) to shift the focus of their agriculture students to seed production to help boost the agricultural productivity in the country.

In his 8th meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council—Agriculture Sector in Malacañang on Wednesday, Marcos urged concerned government agencies to seek the help of SUCs in directing students towards seed production.

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“The farmers can take care of the actual growing of seedlings. These new agronomists, agriculturists, can be [the] ones doing seed production,” he said.

“Let’s direct those coming out of agricultural colleges into seed production” he also said.

Marcos noted that the students focus must be on research and development instead of the growing of seeds itself.

“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 stressed.

He further emphasized the need to assist agricultural schools in making the seed they produce available to commercial levels.

According to Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Prospero de Vera, there are about 70 SUCs that offer agriculture programs.

From that number, 15 have facilities for coconut production, while others have unused lands that can be repurposed for seedling production.