THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture has given the Nueva Vizcaya State University certification to be a Rice Enhancement Fund-Learning Site for Agriculture.

NVSU said the certification will allow the university to “help improve farmers’ competitiveness and income amid the liberalization of rice trade.”

Officials from NVSU, headed by its Officer-in-Charge Ruth R. Padilla, met with DA officials for the handing of the certificate.

RCEF is in line with Republic Act 11203 or the “An Act Liberalizing the Importation, Exportation, and Trading of Rice, Lifting for the Purpose of the Quantitative Import Restriction on Rice and for Other Purposes.”

“The certification of the NVSU-University Central Experiment Station as RCEF-LSA will strengthen NVSU’s extension and training services, which will result in more clientele to be served, especially the rice farmers who are the beneficiaries of the RCEF,” NVSU said on Facebook.

“Through the NVSU-RCEF-LSA, it is hoped that the capabilities of rice farmers on modernized inbred rice and seed production and other relevant skills will be enhanced for improved competitiveness, productivity, and income,” it added.