DA distributes 60,000 ube planting materials in Leyte, Bohol

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday said it has distributed 60,000 ube planting materials to farmers in Leyte and Bohol as part of efforts to expand the country’s purple yam industry.

Led by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), the DA said this initiative aims to increase production of the root crop and improve farmers’ incomes, especially as ube continues to grow in both domestic and international markets.

READ: Purple yam, global demand: Inside America’s growing ube craze

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The P2.6 million project covered 900 farmers organized into more than 60 farmer groups across key ube-producing areas in the Visayas, with beneficiaries in Bohol located in the towns of Dagohoy, San Isidro, Lila, Cortes and Albuquerque.

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Meanwhile, those in Leyte were spread across Abuyog, Tacloban, Baybay, Bato, Maasin, Ormoc, Carigara, Mayorga, Palompon, Naval, Mahaplag, Kananga, Burauen, Calubian and Inopacan.

“As ube gains worldwide recognition, we must ensure Filipino farmers are positioned to take advantage of the opportunities it creates,” BPI Director Glenn Panganiban said in the DA’s statement.

“This initiative helps provide the foundation for increased production, higher incomes, and a stronger domestic ube industry,” he added.

Regular field monitoring and validation activities are then conducted to assess how the distributed planting materials are being utilized and to gather feedback from farmer-beneficiaries.

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READ: Global ube boom highlights problems for Filipino farmers

The monitoring exercise is also intended to ensure government assistance reaches intended beneficiaries and generates tangible gains in farm productivity and income.

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Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., for his part, said the government is actively identifying agricultural products with strong export potential that can generate higher incomes for farmers while helping narrow the country’s agricultural trade gap.

“With ube now enjoying global recognition, we see an opportunity to expand production, increase exports, and help reduce the country’s more than USD10-billion annual agricultural trade deficit,” said Tiu Laurel. /jpv

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