Japan backs P184-M NFA grain testing upgrade
MANILA, Philippines – The Japanese government is backing a P184.2-million project of the National Food Authority (NFA) to reduce postharvest losses by upgrading its grain quality testing system.
In a statement on Monday, the NFA said it will implement a three-year project to strengthen its institutional capacity in grain postharvest processing through an enhanced Product Quality Evaluation System (PQuEST).
READ: LandBank, ACPC launch rice modernization loan facility
Under the initiative, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide a P124.4-million grant, while the Philippine government will contribute P59.8 million in counterpart funding.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the project will strengthen the NFA’s technical capability, promote knowledge transfer, and help build a more resilient and efficient grain management system.
“By modernizing the NFA’s laboratories and adopting science-based testing systems, we are equipping the agency with better tools to protect grain quality, support sound policymaking, and enhance the competitiveness of our agriculture sector,” said Tiu Laurel, who chairs the NFA Council.
Moreover, the grains agency said the initiative will strengthen varietal screening of new grain strains and support the development of more effective grain-handling and evaluation technologies.
The project, which will run from 2026 to 2028, includes upgrading laboratory facilities at the NFA Central Office and regional laboratories in Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, and Davao. It will also equip them with new testing instruments and overhaul existing grain quality assessment protocols.
READ: NFA pushes direct rice sales amid crisis
In addition, the project will develop new testing standards and operating manuals for 22 laboratory equipment units.
Meanwhile, the government will send technical personnel to training programs in the Philippines, Japan, and Thailand, focusing on rice quality assessment and corn testing technologies.
“Knowledge gained from the training programs will be cascaded to branch offices nationwide, helping standardize grain quality evaluation across the agency,” it added. /pai INQ
