Law Summary

Introduction

This document sets forth the seed standards for hybrid rice and hybrid corn production in the Philippines, in accordance with the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 7308, known as the Seed Industry Development Act of 1992.

Seed Standard for Hybrid Rice

I. General Requirements

• The standards for hybrid rice seeds have been established to ensure high quality.
• The Seed Certifying Agency has adopted these requirements.

II. Land Requirements

• Selection Criteria: Areas must support reliable economic production and minimize natural hazards.
  • Fertile soil with adequate irrigation and drainage.
  • Free from weeds and volunteer rice varieties.
  • Adequate sunshine and absence of serious pests/diseases.

III. Field Inspection

• Official Inspections: Conducted at various growth stages:
  • Transplanting: Verify row orientation, planting distance, and seedling count.
  • Maximum Tillering to Flowering: Ensure off-types are removed.
  • Harvest: Ensure R lines are harvested before A lines.

IV. Field Standards

• Production Area: Minimum of five hectares, compact area.
• Isolation Standards: Essential for genetic purity.
  • Distance Isolation: 100 meters from other rice varieties.
  • Time Isolation: Planting must be staggered by at least 3 weeks.
  • Barrier Isolation: Natural or artificial barriers must be at least 2.5 meters high.

V. Seed Standards

• Quality Requirements:
  • Pure seed (min.): 98%
  • Weed and other crop seed (max.): 0.1%
  • Inert matter (max.): 2%
  • Red rice grains (max.): 2 per 500g
  • Other varieties (max.): 20 per 500g
  • Germination (min.): 85%
  • Moisture content (max.): 14%

Seed Standard for Hybrid Corn

I. General Requirements

• Seed standards for hybrid corn have also been established by the Seed Certifying Agency.

II. Land Requirements

• Field Condition: Must be free from volunteer plants; no previous crop restrictions.

III. Field Inspection

• Required Inspections: At least three inspections plus detasseling check.
  • Planting Time: Verify proper male/female row placement.
  • Vegetative Stage: Check for roguing, weed control, and fertilization.
  • Flowering Time: Ensure roguing and detasseling are performed.
    • Allowance: 0.25% undetasseled for single crosses, 0.5% for three-way crosses.
  • Harvest Time: Prevent mixture of seed parent and pollen rows.

IV. Field Standards

• Production Area: Minimum of one hectare.
• Isolation Requirements:
  • Time Isolation: 20 days before/after adjacent corn plantings.
  • Distance Isolation: 200 meters for same color, 400 meters for different colors, with barriers specified.

V. Seed Standards

• Quality Requirements:
  • Pure seed (min.): 98%
  • Inert matter (max.): 2%
  • Other varieties: 2 seeds/500g for single cross, 5 seeds/500g for double cross.
  • Other crop seed (max.): 0% for single cross, 0.5% for double cross.
  • Weed seed (max.): 0%
  • Germination (min.): 85%
  • Moisture content (max.): 14%

Key Takeaways

• The document outlines comprehensive seed standards for hybrid rice and corn to ensure quality production.
• Strict land, inspection, and isolation requirements are crucial for maintaining genetic purity.
• Clear thresholds for seed quality are established, including maximum permissible impurities and minimum germination rates.
• Compliance with these standards is essential for seed producers to ensure high-quality agricultural outputs in the Philippines.