China’s Ministry of Agriculture offers $100 million credit line for hybrid rice production (Linked to Project ID #38626, #34702, #34534, and #34576)

On December 20, 2000, Philippines Department of Agriculture and the Ministry of Agriculture of China agreed to a $100 million credit line with the Philippines to facilitate the production of high-yield hybrid rice. Loans approved under the credit line were to be repaid over eight years with a two-year grace period at an interest rate of 3%. It appears that two projects were ultimately approved under this credit line: the Banaoang Pump Irrigation Project (captured in Project ID#34534) and the General Santos Fish Port Complex Upgrading Project (captured in Project ID #34576).Part of this project also included the establishment of the Philippines-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT) at Central Luzon State University (captured in Project ID#34702), and the launch Agricultural Technical Cooperation Program (captured in Project ID#38626). In April 2013, the SL Agritech Corporation (SLAC), the Philippines' pioneer hybrid rice seeds producer, has developed its own hybrid rice, SL-8H, in collaboration with China and using Chinese hybrid rice technology. Through PhilSCAT, a number of hybrid rice varieties have become successful in the Philippines.

Number of official sources

1

Number of unofficial sources

7