Jardine inks five-year deal with SeedWorks for new hybrid rice seeds

Taking part in the Philippines’ bid to strengthen its rice sufficiency, Jardine Distribution Inc. (JDI) inked a five-year distributorship agreement with SeedWorks for its US Agriseeds hybrid rice seeds last January 18 at the SeedWorks office in Singapore.

Jardine Distribution, Inc. currently has in its portfolio quality hybrid rice seeds such as TH-82, US-88, and Quadro Alas – all aimed at boosting the government’s efforts to make the Philippines a top rice exporter in the world once again. This significant move will likewise help local farmers produce substantially better rice and provide a hedge against abnormal weather patterns such as the lingering El Niño in the country right now.

Present at the contact signing were Edwin Hernandez, JDI president; Carlos Saplala, SeedWorks Philippines general manager; Dr. Balaji Nukal, managing director of SeedWorks International Pvt. Ltd.; Wilson Kwong, JEC chief executive officer; and Roberto Luis Littaua, JDI’s marketing manager.

“Jardine acknowledges both the importance of rice production in the country and its impact on the Philippine economy. The company is thus doing its part in improving local rice production by providing quality hybrid rice seeds that will help our farmers attain optimum harvest and minimize losses,” JDI president Edwin Fernandez averred.

While in Singapore, the JDI team ensured the quality of the seeds they are bringing into the country by visiting the biotechnology facilities of SeedWorks—a state-of-the-art technology center that serves the biotech requirements of the company as well as those of other seed companies.

A featured product in the JDI and SeedWorks partnership is Quadro Alas, a type of hybrid seed that is perfect for Philippine weather, can be planted all year round, and is highly resistant to rice diseases. The Quadro Alas also promises high-quality long-grain rice.

Jardine Distribution, Inc., a member company of the Jardine Matheson Group, represents a number of leading brands in crop protection, local and foreign-made pesticides, plant growth regulators, plant nutrition, hybrid rice seeds, and vegetable seeds. For more information, please visit www.jardinedistribution.com.